Infection Prevention and Control
“Infection prevention and control is the clinical application of microbiology in practice. Infection or disease may be caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses or prions and can result in a wide variety of infections …Understanding how infections occur and how different micro-organisms act and spread is crucial to preventing infections.” (RCN Clinical topic: Infection prevention and control). Use this guide to find information resources related to infection prevention and control including books, reports and journal articles.
Last updated:
21/12/2022
COVID-19
RCN: COVID-19 (coronovirus)
RCN (2021) COVID-19 workplace risk assessment toolkit.
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The aim of this toolkit is to support healthcare professionals consider and manage risks associated with the transmission of respiratory infections, specifically COVID-19, and aid local decision making on the level of personal protective equipment (PPE) required to protect them whilst at work. The toolkit may be of benefit to employers, managers, healthcare professionals and safety representatives..
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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.
Key Resources
HSC Public Health Agency (no date) The Northern Ireland regional infection prevention and control manual.
RCN Clinical topic: skin health
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.
Royal College of Nursing (2017) Creating a strategic focus to support the prevention of infection: RCN statement. London: RCN.
Royal College of Nursing (2021) The role of the link nurse in infection prevention and control (IPC): developing a link nurse framework. London: RCN.
Royal College of Nursing (2017) Essential practice for infection prevention and control: guidance for nursing staff. London: RCN.
Royal College of Nursing (2017) Infection prevention and control: information and learning resources for health care staff. London: RCN.
Public Health England (2019) Antimicrobial resistance (AMR): applying All Our Health. London: PHE.
Public Health England (2017) Health matters: preventing infections and reducing antimicrobial resistance. London: PHE.
NHS Scotland (no date) National infection control manual (NIPCM).
HM Government (2019) Contained and controlled. The UK’s 20-year vision for antimicrobial resistance. (no place): GOV.UK.
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.
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.
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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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We would like to thank the RCN Infection Prevention and Control member community for their input into the development of this subject guide.
Books
Adams D P (2020) Foundations of infectious disease: a public health perspective. Burlington: Jones and Bartlett Learning.
The Royal Marsden Manual Online
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Chapter 4 covers Infection Prevention and Control
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Bearman G, Munoz-Price S, Morgan D and Murthy R (2018) Infection prevention: new perspectives and controversies. Cham: Springer.
Courtenay M (2020) Antimicrobial stewardship for nursing practice. Walingford: CABI.
Delves-Yates C and Northway R (2018) Essentials of nursing practice. 2nd edn. Los Angeles: Sage. -
See chapters 22 and 23
Borrow from RCN Library services
Kennamer M (2021) Basic infection control for health care professionals. 3rd edn. Boston: Cengage.
McDonnell G (2020) Block’s disinfection, sterilization, and preservation. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health.
Purssell E and Gould D (2022) Infection prevention and control in healthcare settings. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
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.
Walker J T (2020) Decontamination in hospitals and healthcare. 2nd edn. Cambridge: Woodhead Publishing.
Ward D (2016) Microbiology and infection prevention and control for nursing students. London: Learning Matters.
Weber D and Talbot T (2021) Mayhall’s hospital epidemiology and infection prevention. 5th edn. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.
Weston D, Burgess A and Roberts S (2017) Infection prevention and control at a glance. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons.
World Health Organization (2018) Managing epidemics: key facts about major deadly diseases. Geneva: World Health Organization.
Wilson J (2019) Infection control in clinical practice. Updated 3rd edn. London: Elsevier.
Classic books
Fraise A P and Bradley C (2009) Ayliffe’s control of healthcare-associated infection: a practical handbook. 5th edn. London: Hodder Arnold.
Perry C (2007) Infection prevention and control. Oxford, UK: Blackwell.
Davies S C, Grant J and Catchpole M (2013) The drugs don't work: a global threat. London: Viking.
Book subject searches
Use these links to see details of books the RCN libraries hold on each topic.
Journal articles
Use these links for details of journal articles on each topic.
Journals
Journals of interest for infection prevention and control. Use these links to see details of availability.
Events and Exhibitions
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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Sibylla Parkhill
Editor of this guide
RCN Library and Archive Service
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Page last updated - 21/12/2022
