Empowering Nurses: Strengthening Infection Control and Surveillance of HAIs in Ghana

project summary

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a serious global health issue. Without action, they could cause 3.5 million deaths annually by 2050 and lead to over $1 trillion in economic losses. Each year, about 136 million HAIs are caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, making HAIs a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance. Research shows that up to 80% of HAIs and resistance can be prevented through stronger infection prevention and control (IPC) and better HAI tracking. This project seeks to address these challenges in Ghana through five objectives:
1.Evaluate both manual (nurse-led) and electronic (AI-based) surveillance systems for tracking HAIs in low-resource settings.
2.Assess how prepared healthcare facilities are for IPC and whether IPC resources are equitably distributed.
3.Test various IPC training methods for nurses to identify the most effective approach for nationwide adoption.
4.Implement and evaluate proven IPC strategies ("bundles") in high-risk hospital areas like ICUs, NICUs, and burn units.
5.Analyze the cost-effectiveness and scalability of these interventions for broader national use.
The expected outcome is a reliable, sustainable HAI surveillance system that can be used for long-term monitoring in Ghana. The project will also provide evidence as to how to allocate IPC resources more fairly, train nurses effectively, and implement infection control strategies that work in low-resource settings. It will further build local expertise by training PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in IPC, health systems, and implementation science. The project is organized into five work packages:
Work Package 1 compares nurse-led and AI-based HAI surveillance systems for accuracy and usability and explores integrating results into Ghana’s DHIMS-2.
Work Package 2 uses surveys and interviews to assess IPC readiness and resource gaps in hospitals, focusing on equipment and healthcare worker experiences.
Work Package 3 tests training models (e.g., classroom vs. mentorship), with pre- and post-training assessments and stakeholder interviews.
Work Package 4 introduces IPC bundles in high-risk units, tracks infection rates, and explores staff perspectives on implementation.
Work Package 5 evaluates the costs and benefits of the interventions and models their potential scale-up across the country.