Infection prevention and control forum at Interclean Amsterdam 2018

The Forum addresses the growing demand for hygienic and disinfecting products and solutions in the healthcare sector. This is caused by an increasing threat of health care-associated infections. 

The aim of the Forum is to put prevention of health care-associated infections and the threat of antibiotic resistance on top of the agenda by facilitating knowledge sharing and networking amongst decision makers, key opinion leaders and other parties in the industry. A decrease in health care-associated infections will improve patient safety and reduce the duration of hospital stay. This could save the healthcare sector millions a year.

Key topics will focus on the importance of surface cleaning and hand hygiene, antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention. The programme starts off with an informative session on the burden of health care-associated infections. Education and patient-safety will be also be addressed, as well as cost-effectiveness, the economy of cleaning, and new research and developments. The programme will finish with the CEO executive session on cleaning in relation to infection prevention and control. 

The scientific advisory committee will be spearheaded by Professor Didier Pittet, infectious diseases expert and the director of the Infection Control Programme and World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre on Patient Safety, University of Geneva Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine.

He said: “Health care-associated infections are one of the largest causes of deaths worldwide. These are preventable deaths. Yet, no healthcare systems can claim to have solved the problem. This Forum will be an essential step in increasing awareness on health care-associated infections and in addressing the critical role of cleaning in infection prevention and control.”

The fruits of the Forum, such as ideas for new products or policies, can be found at the Healthcare Cleaning Island during the exhibition. 

Rob den Hertog, director professional cleaning & hygiene at Interclean Amsterdam 2018, said: “The link between the professional cleaning exhibition of Interclean Amsterdam 2018 and the Forum is the innovative aspect. This is where over 1000 decision makers in the cleaning industry can come into contact with the offers, thoughts and demands from the healthcare industry.”