Infection Prevention and Control Education in EGYPT: Professional Diploma in Infection Control (PDIC)

Abstract

Preamble: before 2003, there was no structured infection control program in Egypt, neither at the national level nor at the peripheral facility level. there were only some individual efforts and isolated trials in some healthcare facilities. Early in 2003, an infection control program was established by collaboration between the Ministry of health, World health organisation (Who) Easter Mediterranean Regional office (EMRo) and other relevant governmental and non-governmental healthcare authorities and organizations. Education in infection prevention and control was targeted as one of the main objectives of the infection control program. Short term infection control training courses were developed by the ministry of health in conjunction with the Egyptian Society for Infection control (ESIC) as training of trainers (tot) courses. these courses were conducted in one of two forms: • A one week per month course, over a six months period, with the three weeks gap in each month used for practical on the job training in the field. • A one day per week course for a six months period, with field assignments and projects throughout the course, followed by the awarding of a training certificate after sitting for written, oral and practical exams. After four years of such certified training, ESIC and the Arab Institute for Continuing Professional Development (AICPD), decided that in order to have qualified professionals to take over infection prevention and control activities in Egypt, as well as the EMRo region, it would be important to have a more comprehensive training programme, allowing candidates to get a Professional Diploma in Infection Control (PDIC).