Version 6.1 is the final protocol for the third EU-wide point prevalence survey in acute care hospitals (PPS 2022–2023). It contains important changes compared to protocol version 5.3 (PPS 2016–2017), including on healthcare-associated COVID-19.
This guidance aims to provide EU/EEA countries with an evidence-based framework to help develop, implement, monitor and evaluate their own national HBV, HCV and HIV testing guidelines and programmes.
This protocol is to ensure standardisation of definitions, data collection and reporting procedures for hospitals participating in the national/regional surveillance of healthcare-associated infections in intensive care units across Europe.
Version 5.3 is the final protocol for the second EU-wide point prevalence survey (PPS 2016–2017). It contains major changes compared to protocol version 4.3 (PPS 2011–2012). Compared to versions 5.1 (January 2016) and 5.2 (May 2016), the current version only contains a few corrections, editorial changes and clarifications.
This protocol is the final ECDC point prevalence survey (PPS) validation protocol, which was adapted according to the findings of the pilot validation study and discussed with experts from Member States at a meeting in London on 5 March 2012.
The protocol provides a standardised methodology to Member States and hospitals in response to article II.8.c of Council Recommendation 2009/C 151/01 of 9 June 2009 on patient safety, including the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections. It also integrates the main variables of the ESAC hospital PPS protocol, thereby providing support to Council Recommendation 2002/77/EC of 15 November 2001 on the prudent use of antimicrobial agents in human medicine.
This evidence-based guidance is designed to inform the development, monitoring and evaluation of national strategies and programmes in countries in Europe in order to reduce and prevent infections among people who inject drugs.
The content of this joint guidance was developed by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) with the support of a technical advisory group composed of policy makers, service providers, civil society representatives and preventative health experts from throughout the EU/EEA.