Infectious Diseases 2027

Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) remain a major patient-safety challenge and can result in increased morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, antimicrobial use, healthcare costs, and preventable adverse outcomes. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), private hospitals operate within a structured regulatory environment that emphasizes infection prevention and control (IPC), quality, patient safety, surveillance, and compliance. However, regulatory compliance alone may not necessarily translate into sustained and effective infection-prevention practices. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the role of infection prevention and control governance in strengthening IPC performance within private hospitals in the UAE and to develop an integrated governance-based framework for reducing HAIs and improving patient safety. Methods: A mixed-methods, cross-sectional approach will be proposed, incorporating assessment of IPC governance structures, institutional policies and procedures, staff training, hand-hygiene compliance, environmental and equipment decontamination, isolation practices, antimicrobial stewardship, surveillance systems, incident reporting, outbreak preparedness, and internal audit mechanisms. The proposed framework will be mapped against applicable UAE regulatory and accreditation requirements and internationally recognized IPC principles. Performance indicators will be used to assess the relationship between governance maturity, compliance, and patient-safety outcomes. Expected Results: The study is expected to identify critical governance gaps that may limit the effectiveness and sustainability of IPC programs despite formal regulatory compliance. It is anticipated that stronger leadership accountability, multidisciplinary IPC committees, real-time surveillance, standardized auditing, continuous staff competency assessment, and data-driven corrective actions will be associated with improved IPC performance. Conclusion: Moving from a compliance-driven model toward an integrated governance and performance-based IPC system may provide UAE private hospitals with a more sustainable approach to preventing HAIs and enhancing patient safety. The proposed framework could support healthcare leaders and regulators in transforming IPC from a regulatory requirement into a measurable organizational performance priority. Keywords: Infection Prevention and Control; Healthcare-Associated Infections; Patient Safety; Hospital Governance; Private Hospitals; UAE; Healthcare Quality; Infection Surveillance; Regulatory Compliance.

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