The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), the Swiss Conference of the Cantonal Ministers of Public Health (CMPH) and the CURAVIVA association for Swiss nursing homes and institutions published a joint action plan for implementing the NOSO Strategy in retirement and nursing homes on 18 June 2025.
Information:
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The links to BAG websites listed in the action plan will therefore only work from 24 June 2025.
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A milestone in the implementation of the NOSO Strategy
This national action plan will help prevent healthcare-associated infections in retirement and nursing homes by paying particular regard to the lessons learnt in the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan should ensure that, by 2029, all the partners involved are appropriately sensitised to the vital importance of infection prevention and control (IPC). It should also promote the consistent observance of IPC practices and procedures, to close present gaps. A further key focus will be on maintaining quality of life and residents’ independence and autonomy throughout the IPC actions taken.
An action plan with six priority packages
The first of the plan’s six priority action packages is focused on strengthening cantonal and institutional IPC structures. This includes designating IPC coordinators at both the cantonal and the institutional level and interlinking the various partners involved in IPC implementation to help promote exchanges of news, views and experiences.
Further plan action packages are centred on establishing both minimum structural requirements and nationwide recommendations on various IPC issues. A national committee of IPC experts will also be formed specifically for the area of retirement and nursing homes to develop the content concerned.
A further key plan emphasis will be on promoting IPC training for retirement and nursing home personnel. Efforts here will include putting a greater focus on the topic of IPC in training courses and events. They will also extend to providing specific needs- and user-based IPC training at such establishments as and where required.
In the process of developing the new action plan, the first-ever national data on healthcare-associated infections and the consumption of antibiotics in retirement and nursing homes were also obtained, in the form of a point prevalence survey.
A participatory approach
The NOSO Strategy Action Plan for Retirement and Nursing Homes is the product of a close collaboration between the FOPH, the CMPH, cantonal partners, the CURAVIVA association for Swiss nursing homes and institutions and the corresponding further specialist associations and educational institutions. The plan has also been formally validated by the CMPH and CURAVIVA.
Last modification 18.06.2025