The culture of healthcare professionals, top management, healthcare organizations, health literacy, and citizen empowerment, along with eco-sustainable healthcare, are key challenges now and for the future of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and IPC governance of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial resistance. These efforts aim to increase public awareness of infection risks and to promote sustainable healthcare. The holistic approach to IPC is essential given the multitude and complexity of factors involved in patient care processes, necessitating the integration of humanistic knowledge to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of interventions. Management, leadership, lifelong learning, teamwork, knowledge, and skills are crucial tools to address the enablers and barriers within IPC. Emerging technologies, such as AI, will offer valuable support for HAI surveillance and control activities; however, professionals, through their daily practices in patient care, remain the primary resource to invest in for advancing the safety of healthcare delivery.