Virtual Infection Prevention and Control in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Authors

Tristan Jones, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityFollow
Kalisvar Marimuthu, National University of Singapore
Gonzalo Bearman, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Original Publication Date

2022

Journal/Book/Conference Title

International Journal of Infectious Diseases

Volume

117

First Page

93

Last Page

96

DOI of Original Publication

10.1016/j.ijid.2022.01.065

Comments

Originally published at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2022.01.065

Date of Submission

November 2023

Abstract

COVID-19 brought new challenges and opportunities for infection prevention and control. Virtual infection prevention and control (VIPC), although nascent, is rapidly becoming a viable and necessary strategy for combatting the COVID-19 pandemic. Benefits of VIPC include extending the impact of globally scarce infectious disease providers and public health practitioners, allowing coordination between disparate professionals to more effectively combat infectious disease, and increasing access to and quality of healthcare. Although mainly applied in developed countries, VIPC may play its greatest role in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with fewer healthcare resources. We conducted a brief literature search of VIPC in LMICs and found that many studies describe solutions in developed countries or describe planned or theoretical solutions. Few studies describe actual VIPC implementation in LMICs, except for China. Literature from related fields, for example, virtual critical care, and from developed countries is more robust and provides a roadmap for future research on VIPC in LMICs. Further research into strategies and outcomes related to VIPC in LMICs is necessary.

Rights

© 2022 The Authors. This article is available under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND license and permits non-commercial use of the work as published, without adaptation or alteration provided the work is fully attributed.