Strengthening Infection Control for Ebola and Marburg: New Research Priorities

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified critical gaps in infection prevention and control (IPC) practices for Ebola and Marburg disease outbreaks. A recent report, “Ebola and Marburg Disease Outbreaks: Infection Prevention and Control Research Priorities in Health Care Settings,” calls for urgent research to address these gaps. The research prioritization exercise revealed that healthcare workers' protection, personal protective equipment (PPE) effectiveness, and IPC training are top areas requiring investigation. The WHO's findings provide a roadmap for future studies to improve IPC measures and protect healthcare staff and patients during outbreaks.

Urgent Gaps in Infection Control

In the battle against the deadly Ebola and Marburg viruses, healthcare settings are often the frontline. However, the lack of robust infection prevention and control (IPC) measures leaves both health workers and patients vulnerable to transmission. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently released a report titled “Ebola and Marburg Disease Outbreaks: Infection Prevention and Control Research Priorities in Health Care Settings,” which highlights the pressing need for more research in this field.

The report underscores that current guidelines for managing these outbreaks are largely based on limited evidence, particularly regarding personal protective equipment (PPE) and health workers’ safety. Without strong data to back up recommendations, IPC practices can be inconsistent or less effective, putting lives at risk. The WHO's research prioritization exercise aimed to identify the most critical areas that need attention in the next two years to improve outbreak response.

Research Priorities for Health Workers' Safety

One of the key concerns the WHO raises is the protection of healthcare workers during outbreaks of Ebola and Marburg. These viruses, which cause severe and often fatal diseases, can spread rapidly in healthcare settings if proper measures are not in place. The report revealed that there are significant gaps in understanding how to best protect workers, especially regarding PPE.

Questions such as "What are the human factors affecting the safe use of PPE for long periods?" and "How can PPE designs be improved for both safety and usability?" were ranked as high priority. Researchers are also urged to focus on determining the risk factors that contribute to healthcare workers acquiring these infections, especially in environments with limited resources.

PPE plays a crucial role in safeguarding health workers, yet there are still many unanswered questions about its effectiveness. For instance, studies need to examine whether current PPE, such as full-body suits, offers adequate protection compared to alternative designs that may expose areas of skin. Additionally, the environmental and cost impacts of disinfecting and reusing PPE must be evaluated to ensure sustainable practices in outbreak settings.

Another critical area highlighted by the WHO is the need for research on the efficacy of various IPC training methods. Different approaches, such as face-to-face or virtual training, could have varying impacts on health workers' preparedness during outbreaks. Understanding which method leads to better implementation of IPC protocols could help health systems worldwide adopt the most effective strategies.

Shaping the Future of IPC Research

The WHO’s report also stresses the importance of identifying research questions that are relevant to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which are often disproportionately affected by outbreaks. Studies focusing on the feasibility of IPC interventions in resource-limited settings, as well as the development of cost-effective solutions, will be crucial for improving global outbreak preparedness.

The prioritization exercise conducted by the WHO involved 41 experts in infection prevention, control, and outbreak management. The experts ranked 36 research questions, with nine deemed as higher priority. These include areas such as the effectiveness of new PPE designs, the impact of different IPC training programs, and the occupational risks faced by health workers during the Ebola and Marburg outbreaks.

By focusing research efforts on these key areas, the WHO aims to strengthen global health systems' ability to manage future outbreaks. The report serves as a guide for policymakers, researchers, and funding organizations to ensure that resources are directed toward the most urgent questions.

Improving IPC practices in healthcare settings during outbreaks not only protects health workers and patients but also helps prevent the further spread of deadly viruses to the wider community. As the world faces an increasing number of public health emergencies, the need for evidence-based practices in outbreak response has never been more critical.

The WHO’s report on Ebola and Marburg virus outbreaks emphasizes the necessity for immediate action to address the gaps in IPC research. By prioritizing questions related to PPE, healthcare worker safety, and IPC training, this exercise provides a roadmap for future studies. These efforts will help safeguard healthcare systems worldwide against future outbreaks of Ebola, Marburg, and other deadly pathogens. With a focus on practical solutions that can be implemented in low-resource settings, the findings of this report will shape the future of infection control and help save lives during global health emergencies.