Nigeria is experiencing a renewed call for the fortification of infection prevention and control (IPC) measures amidst escalating concern over recurring infectious disease outbreaks. This call stems from the dire need to control the circulation of illnesses such as Lassa fever in both hospital and community settings. The importance of these measures was the focus of the third round of the Lassa Fever Clinical Management Training in Nigeria’s capital, an event organized by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). This gathering served as a platform to emphasize the significance of IPC in mitigating outbreaks. Medical professionals, infectious disease specialists, and epidemiologists attended the event.
Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed, a Consultant Clinical Microbiologist and Department Head of Microbiology and Immunology at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Gombe State, expressed concerns about the potential threats that infectious agents pose when IPC protocols aren’t strictly adhered to, noting that these threats stem from both within and outside of hospital environments. He emphasized the need for consistent, ongoing training of healthcare workers, arguing that single sessions are insufficient in provoking enduring behavioral modifications.
He also reiterated the significance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), stressing on the need for an assured supply of PPE in health facilities, and highlighting that the mere presence of such equipment is futile unless health workers are proficient in its proper usage. Effective daily hygiene practices were seen as crucial elements of IPC, with Dr. Mohammed noting that the vast majority of infections in hospitals initiate via physical contact, which can be largely reduced through strong hand hygiene practices.
The notion of continuous surveillance and contact tracing was discussed as a critical factor in introducing a halt to the spread of Lassa fever. Dr. Mohammed stressed the need for an integrated ‘One Health’ approach, linking the efforts of the health, agriculture, and environmental sectors to comprehensively address and break the transmission cycle of diseases.
Dr. Hafizah Suleiman, a consultant infectious disease specialist and the head of the infectious disease treatment center at ATBUTH, Bauchi State, highlighted a real-world scenario demonstrating the fatal consequences of IPC negligence. A 35-year-old laboratory scientist contracted Lassa fever while caregiving for her mother without observing basic IPC measures, illustrating the stark and deadly reality of non-compliance to IPC procedures.
In the wake of these events, both specialists strongly advocated for an intensification of public health education, with a focus on environmental sanitation, appropriate usage of hand hygiene procedures, and decontamination of reusable medical equipment. They also called for organizations to incorporate IPC protocols into their regular operations and weave them into staff performance reviews to ensure consistent compliance.
Participants universally recognized that infection control extends beyond clinical obligations—it’s a public safety priority. They suggested a collaborative approach involving government agencies, healthcare institutions, and communities to promote a safety-first attitude. They concluded that investing in comprehensive IPC systems, sharpening healthcare worker instruction, and beefing up surveillance networks would substantially alleviate the incidence of Lassa fever and avert unnecessary deaths in Nigeria.