In conjunction with World Infection Prevention Week, the Medical Microbiology and Immunology Association held its second Infection Prevention Conference of 2024 under the theme "Moving the Needle on Infection Prevention," in collaboration with the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine.

The conference was held under the patronage of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University; Prof. Ali El-Anwar, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Chairman of University Hospitals; and Prof. Hala Suweed, Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development. The conference was chaired by Prof. Maha Hamdy, Head of the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology.

The conference sessions covered various topics in infection prevention and control, addressing current challenges and the latest applied methods. The conference spanned three days, featuring specialized workshops on the first and third days.

Among the conference’s key recommendations were the emphasis on “Go Green” initiatives in healthcare facilities to achieve sustainability, focusing on carbon footprint reduction. The core pillars of green initiatives include effective leadership, sustainable energy and water resources, waste management, food safety, supply chain management, and resilient infrastructure.

Additionally, it highlighted the need for rapid identification and targeted treatment to improve human health outcomes, the importance of biosecurity for all countries, including Egypt, in crisis prevention, and the promotion of hygiene and sterilization practices throughout all stages of nutrition services.

The conference also recommended ongoing staff training to prevent hospital-acquired infections, encouraged the adoption of modern technologies to support traditional surface sterilization methods, and called for further research on the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of these methods.

The event was attended by 130 participants and 94 physicians in the workshops. It was also attended by Prof. Shereen Ghaleb, President of the Cairo Medical Syndicate, along with faculty members from Ain Shams, Suez Canal, Benha, and Zagazig Universities. The conference included infection control specialists from several hospitals and healthcare organizations, as well as doctors from various specialties and professionals from laboratories, pharmacy, nursing, and dentistry, contributing to a rich and integrated experience across medical disciplines.