Building Infection Prevention Capacity in the Middle East: A 7-Year Certification Success Story
Despite rapid development, the Middle East faces a critical shortage of certified infection preventionists. A 7-year regional initiative has significantly boosted infection control capacity, increasing the number of certified professionals and elevating patient safety standards across health care settings.
Increasing Middle Eastern Certified IPs at APIC25
While health care infrastructure in the Middle East has grown rapidly, infection prevention efforts have struggled to keep pace, largely due to a shortage of certified, experienced infection preventionists (IPs). Recognizing this gap, a regional initiative launched in 2017 has spent the last 7 years addressing the challenge head-on by preparing and supporting IPs to attain Certification in Infection Control (CIC), a globally recognized standard of professional competence.
The program began as an educational platform to guide IPs through the rigorous CIC exam process. Enrolling more than 1,000 participants, including subject matter experts and certified IPs, the initiative offered targeted support through structured study plans, didactic training sessions, and peer collaboration.
A prospective observational study was embedded in the program to evaluate outcomes. From October 2017 to November 2024, the number of CIC-certified IPs in the region grew from 82 to 282, making it the region with the highest number of certified IPs outside of North America.
Of the 428 participants who attempted the CIC exam through the platform, 67% passed, closely matching the 2023 global average pass rate of 71% reported by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC). Notably, approximately 60% of those certified now practice in Saudi Arabia, where demand for skilled infection control practitioners remains high.
Beyond exam preparation, the platform has played a key role in elevating the professional development and clinical readiness of IPs across multiple health care systems. It has strengthened infection prevention programs by fostering career growth, promoting regional leadership in infection control, and aligning local practices with international standards.
As health care systems in the Middle East continue to expand, initiatives like this serve as a model for sustainable workforce development, ensuring that infection prevention competencies grow alongside clinical capacity to meet the demands of modern care and global patient safety expectations.
The information was presented as a poster at the Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology Conference and Expo, held in Phoenix, Arizona, from June 16 to 18, 2025, by Shazia Irum, MSC, MBA, RN, CIC, CPHQ, from the King Salman Center for Kidney Diseases. Coauthors were Mohammed S Qashgari, MD, from the Saudi Public Health Authority; Elsy Mady El Chaer, MSN, RN, CIC, from Houston Methodist West; and Bassel Molaeb, MPH, CIC, FAPIC, from The Compass Health Consultancy, Dubai.
Newsletter
Stay prepared and protected with Infection Control Today's newsletter, delivering essential updates, best practices, and expert insights for infection preventionists.
From Pandemic to Endemic: How the Protective Face Mask Market Is Evolving
August 1st 2025Once a symbol of crisis, face masks have evolved into everyday essentials—driven not only by pandemic preparedness but by rising air pollution, cultural shifts, and workplace safety regulations. As innovation and demand grow worldwide, the protective face mask market is poised for long-term expansion well beyond COVID-19.
Sharps Safety Starts with Us: Why Infection Preventionists Must Lead the Charge
August 1st 2025Sharps injuries remain a silent but serious threat in health care that infection preventionists are uniquely equipped to confront. With underreporting widespread and safety devices underused, it’s time for IPs to step into a leadership role, using their expertise in systems thinking, education, and policy to build a culture where staff protection is as prioritized as patient care.
The Green Revolution in SPD: From Hidden Cost to Frontline Change
August 1st 2025As climate change accelerates, health care’s environmental impact faces increased scrutiny, with sterile processing departments (SPDs) emerging as key change agents. Often behind the scenes, SPD professionals can lead sustainability by turning routine practices into ecofriendly protocols that protect both patient and planetary health.
