Rationale and guidance for strengthening infection prevention and control measures and antimicrobial stewardship programs in Bangladesh: a study protocol

BACKGROUND: Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are major global health challenges. Drug-resistant infectious diseases continue to rise in developing countries, driven by shortfalls in infection control measures, antibiotic misuse, and scarcity of reliable diagnostics. These escalating global challenges have highlighted the importance of strengthening fundamental infection prevention and control (IPC) measures and implementing effective antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP). This study aims to present a framework for enhancing IPC measures and ASP efforts to reduce the HAI and AMR burden in Bangladesh. METHODS: This implementation approach will employ a mixed-methods strategy, combining both quantitative and qualitative data from 12 tertiary hospitals in Bangladesh. A baseline assessment will be conducted using the Infection Prevention and Control Assessment Framework (IPCAF) developed…