Thoughts from most recent GIPCN Meeting

October 2024

By Kemal Rasa and Claire Kilpatrick

Dr. Kemal Rasa is a distinguished general surgeon with expertise in minimally invasive and endocrine surgery, particularly for breast and thyroid cancers. Dr. Rasa has a deep commitment to the field of surgical infections, actively contributing to the European Surgical Infection Society (SIS-E), serving as its President in 2021. A founding member and secretary of the World Surgical Infection Society (WSIS) , he also played a vital role in crafting a variety of global guidelines. Alongside his leadership in national and international surgical infection prevention guidelines, Dr. Rasa continues his clinical practice as a general surgery specialist at Anatolian Medical Center.

Claire is a graduate of the University of Glasgow with a post-grad Diploma in infection prevention and control and a MSc in medical sciences (travel medicine). In 2023 she was awarded a doctor of science for impact in the areas of IPC, water, sanitation and hygiene and patient and health worker safety by Glasgow Caledonian University. She is also a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Glasgow) and a nurse by background. She has worked in global health since 2008 and is a founding and current board member of the World Surgical Infection Society.

An international meeting, a significant event in the global fight against infections, took place at the World Health Organization (WHO) Headquarters in Geneva from 27 to 29 August 2024. With over a hundred participants, it was a truly global gathering.

As the society secretary representing the World Surgical Infection Society (WSIS)and a key member of the WHO facilitated Global Infection Prevention and Control Network (GIPCN), Kemal Rasa had the privilege of attending this year's meeting. The meeting, led by Professor Benedetta Allegranzi (Technical Lead, IPC Unit, WHO), was a gathering of many high-level representatives from WHO headquarters, WHO regional offices, WHO country offices, and various stakeholders, ministries of health, and public health agencies.

During this intensive three-day meeting, strategic approaches to IPC were discussed and recommendations for the most effective use of resources were evaluated.

A summary of the global meeting discussions:

• One of the most important agenda items of the meeting was the 'Implementation Guide' being prepared in support of the Global Action Plan and Monitoring Framework, launched by WHO in 2024 after approval by all countries. Critical issues related to the guide's content in support of country action were discussed in detail in working groups.

• Possible strategic partnerships and collaborations were identified within and beyond GIPCN that could support and facilitate global, regional, and national and facility level actions.

• Needs and plans for country capacity building on surveillance of healthcare-associated infections was a specific key discussion.

• Work plans fort the GIPCN sub-working groups, on IPC education and training and in public health emergencies, were updated.

• The 'WHO Global Technical Consultation Report on proposed terminology for airborne pathogens' was discussed, including with other external experts joining for this part of the meeting. The implications of this for IPC were discussed in detail.

• Discussions on the threat posed by antimicrobial resistance and how vital IPC is were hopeful parts of the last day.

The enthusiasm of all groups and stakeholders, their openness to cooperation, and their realistic proposals for the realization of plans increased everyone's motivation and belief in IPC going forward.

This was WSIS’ third presence at GIPCN meetings in Geneva. After a year of virtual meetings, Kemal Rasa stated “I was thrilled to deepen my friendship with the people I saw on the screen and to know that we have common concerns, even though meeting some people for the first time in person. The main themes of the conversations that could be held between the meetings were how we might break the mold, broaden our ranks, and increase our political support. The success stories shared by the representatives of middle and low-income countries and the sincere efforts of the representatives of high-income countries for support also raised hopes. The interest in the WSIS journal also increased my belief that our society is doing good work. Yes, it was a hectic three days. Still, the dinner and dance party hosted by Professor Benedetta Allegranzi, the locomotive of the whole project, was the most tangible indication that the team had become a family.” 

Photo: Kemal Rasa and Claire Kilpatrick WSIS board members at the WHO Global IPC meeting, WHO Geneva.