Infection Prevention and Control

RCN (2024) Respiratory risk assessment toolkit.

• This toolkit supports healthcare professionals manage infection risks associated with the transmission of common respiratory infections including COVID-19, Influenza, influenza like illness (ILI) and Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This toolkit also aids local decision making on the level of personal protective equipment (PPE) required to protect staff whilst at work.
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UK Covid-19 Inquiry (2022) What is the UK Covid-19 Inquiry?

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Gould D and Purssell E (2021) RCN Independent review of guidelines for the prevention and control of Covid-19 in health care settings in the United Kingdom: evaluation and messages for future infection-related emergency planning. London: RCN.

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UK Covid-19 Inquiry (2023) Witness statement of Rosemary Gallagher MBE (INQ000183414).

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Sky News (2023) COVID-19 Inquiry: Key figures provide evidence on the UK's pandemic preparedness and resilience.

• Rose Gallagher, RCN Infection prevention and control professional lead, provides evidence from 1:53:37
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Glove Awareness

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HSC Public Health Agency (2015) The Northern Ireland regional infection prevention and control manual. 

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HSE (2006) HSE investigation into outbreaks of Clostridium difficile at Stoke
Mandeville Hospital, Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust. 

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Francis (QC), Robert (2010) Independent Inquiry into care provided by Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust January 2005 to March 2009. ( HC 375 2009-10).

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RCN Clinical topic: skin health

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Royal College of Nursing (2020) Tools of the trade: guidance for health care staff on glove use and the prevention of contact dermatitis. London: RCN.

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Royal College of Nursing (2017) Creating a strategic focus to support the prevention of infection: RCN statement. London: RCN.

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Royal College of Nursing (2021) The role of the link nurse in infection prevention and control (IPC): developing a link nurse framework. London: RCN.

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Royal College of Nursing (2017) Essential practice for infection prevention and control: guidance for nursing staff. London: RCN.

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Public Health England (2019) Antimicrobial resistance (AMR): applying All Our Health. London: PHE.

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Public Health England (2017) Health matters: preventing infections and reducing antimicrobial resistance. London: PHE.

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HM Government (2019) Contained and controlled. The UK’s 20-year vision for antimicrobial resistance. (no place): GOV.UK.

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Department of Health (2015) The Health and Social Care Act 2008: code of practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance. London: DH.

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We would like to thank the RCN Infection Prevention and Control member community for their input into the development of this subject guide.

Stevens M, Evans G and Wilcox M (2021) Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and Royal Hospital for Children: case note review overview report March 2021. Edinburgh: The Scottish Government.

• This overview report examines the incidence and impact of qualifying episodes of infection in paediatric haemato-oncology patients cared for at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and the Royal Hospital for Children from 2015 to 2019 and the potential link to the hospital environment.
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NHS Scotland (2022) National infection control manual (NIPCM).

• The NIPCM is mandatory for NHSScotland.
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• The NIPCM is mandatory for NHSScotland. It has been adopted for use by all healthcare organisations in Wales.
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Adams D P (2020) Foundations of infectious disease: a public health perspective. Burlington: Jones and Bartlett Learning.

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The Royal Marsden Manual Online

• Chapter 4 covers Infection Prevention and Control
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Bearman, G. et al. (2022) Infection prevention: new perspectives and controversies. 2nd edn. Cham: Springer International Publishing AG.

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Courtenay M (2020) Antimicrobial stewardship for nursing practice. Walingford: CABI.

• Borrow from RCN Library services

Delves-Yates C and Northway R (2018) Essentials of nursing practice. 2nd edn. Los Angeles: Sage.

• See chapters 22 and 23
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Kennamer M (2021) Basic infection control for health care professionals. 3rd edn. Boston: Cengage.

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McDonnell G (2020) Block’s disinfection, sterilization, and preservation. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health.

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Purssell E and Gould D (2023) Infection prevention and control in healthcare settings. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Blackwell.

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Rafferty A M, Dupree M, Alberti F B (2021) Germs and governance: the past, present and future of hospital infection, prevention and control. Manchester: Manchester University Press. 

• Borrow from RCN Library Services

Walker J T (2020) Decontamination in hospitals and healthcare. 2nd edn. Cambridge: Woodhead Publishing.

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Weber D and Talbot T (2021) Mayhall’s hospital epidemiology and infection prevention. 5th edn. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.

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World Health Organization (2018) Managing epidemics: key facts about major deadly diseases. Geneva: World Health Organization.

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Wilson J (2019) Infection control in clinical practice. Updated 3rd edn. London: Elsevier.

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Fraise A P and Bradley C (2009) Ayliffe’s control of healthcare-associated infection: a practical handbook. 5th edn. London: Hodder Arnold.

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• Borrow from RCN library services

Perry C (2007) Infection prevention and control. Oxford, UK: Blackwell.

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Davies S C, Grant J and Catchpole M (2013) The drugs don't work: a global threat. London: Viking.

• Borrow from RCN Library services

Use these links to see details of books the RCN libraries hold on each topic.

• Antimicrobial resistance
• Hospital infection
• Hygiene
• Infection control
• Infectious diseases
• Microbiology
• Public health and infectious diseases

Use these links for details of journal articles on each topic.

• Antimicrobial resistance
• COVID-19 and PPE
• Hand hygiene
• Health protection and infection control
• Infection control
• Infection control and gloves
• Infection control and sharps injuries
• Infectious diseases
• Public health and infectious diseases
• Surgical site infection/operating theatre infection

Journals of interest for infection prevention and control. Use these links to see details of availability.

• American Journal of Infection Control
• Open access journal:
  Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control
• BMJ Quality and Safety
• Epidemiology and Infection
• Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
• Journal of Hospital Infection
• Journal of Infection Prevention

RCN exhibition: Pandemic!

• Disease is powerful. It can devastate communities and countries, threaten global security and challenge modern medicine and health care. This exhibition explored how nurses have responded to deadly outbreaks, from the so-called Spanish Flu epidemic after the First World War to more recent contagions, like HIV/AIDS and Ebola.
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