Abstract:
The 5th edition of the Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety was held in Montreux, Switzerland, in February
2023, delayed by three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The overarching theme of the summit was “Less
Harm, Better Care – from Resolution to Implementation”, focusing on the challenges of implementation of infection
prevention and control (IPC) strategies as well as antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP) around the world. IPC
strategies and ASP are of increasing importance due to the substantial burden of healthcare-associated infections
and antimicrobial resistance threatening patient safety. Here, we summarize countries’ and regional experiences
and activities related to the implementation of IPC strategies and ASP shared at the meeting. Full implementation
of effective programs remains a major challenge in all settings due to limited support by political and healthcare
leaders, and human and financial constraints. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic challenged already wellestablished programs. By enforcing sustained implementation by dedicated, cross-disciplinary healthcare personnel
with a broad skill set, a reduction in healthcare-associated infections and multidrug-resistant pathogens can be
achieved, leading ultimately to improved patient safety.
