Infection Prevention and Control: The Complete Guide for Nurses

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are among the most common adverse events in healthcare. The World Health Organization estimates that out of every 100 patients in acute care hospitals, around 7 in high-income countries and 15 in low- and middle-income countries will acquire at least one healthcare-associated infection during their stay, and that around one in ten affected patients will die from it. Infections lengthen hospital stays, increase costs, drive antimicrobial resistance and cause enormous suffering. Yet a large proportion of them are preventable through effective infection prevention and control (IPC) practices.

Nurses are at the centre of IPC. They perform hand hygiene more often than anyone else in healthcare, insert and care for catheters and lines, manage wounds, isolate infectious patients, educate patients and families, and often lead IPC teams. This complete guide explains how infections spread, the core principles of IPC, hand hygiene, standard and transmission-based precautions, personal protective equipment (PPE), preventing device-related infections, recognising sepsis, antimicrobial resistance, outbreak management, sharps safety and occupational health, and how nurses can lead a culture of infection prevention.

What is infection prevention and control?

Infection prevention and control is a practical, evidence-based approach that prevents patients and health workers from being harmed by avoidable infections. The World Health Organization identifies core components of effective IPC programmes, including dedicated IPC programmes and trained staff, evidence-based guidelines, education and training, surveillance of infections, multimodal strategies for improvement, monitoring and feedback, adequate staffing and bed occupancy, and a safe built environment with water, sanitation, hygiene facilities and equipment.

IPC is everyone’s responsibility, but nurses play a pivotal role because of their constant presence at the bedside.

The chain of infection

Infections spread through a sequence of links, known as the chain of infection. Breaking any link stops transmission:

1. Infectious agent: bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites capable of causing disease.
2. Reservoir: where the organism lives and multiplies, such as people, animals, water, equipment or surfaces.
3. Portal of exit: how the organism leaves the reservoir, for example through respiratory secretions, blood, faeces, urine or wounds.
4. Mode of transmission: how it moves, through contact (direct or indirect), droplets, airborne particles, or vehicles such as contaminated food, water or medicines.
5. Portal of entry: how it enters a new host, such as the respiratory tract, broken skin, mucous membranes, catheters or surgical wounds.
6. Susceptible host: a person vulnerable to infection because of age, illness, weakened immunity, invasive devices or surgery.

IPC measures target each link: cleaning and disinfection remove reservoirs, hand hygiene and PPE interrupt transmission, aseptic technique protects portals of entry, and vaccination and good nutrition strengthen hosts.

Common healthcare-associated infections

• Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI).
• Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI).
• Surgical site infections (SSI).
• Hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia.
• Clostridioides difficile infection, linked to antibiotic use.
• Infections with multidrug-resistant organisms, such as MRSA, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing bacteria and carbapenem-resistant organisms.
• Respiratory viruses, such as influenza, RSV and COVID-19, spread within healthcare settings.
• Bloodborne viruses, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV, transmitted through unsafe injections and sharps injuries.
• Neonatal sepsis in newborn units, a major cause of infant deaths in low-resource settings.

Hand hygiene: the single most important measure

Hands are the most common vehicle for transmitting organisms in healthcare. Hand hygiene is the simplest, cheapest and most effective way to prevent HAIs, yet compliance among health workers is often well below optimal levels worldwide.

The WHO 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene

1. Before touching a patient.
2. Before a clean or aseptic procedure.
3. After body fluid exposure risk.
4. After touching a patient.
5. After touching patient surroundings.

You can read more in our guide to the WHO 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene.

Alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water?

• Alcohol-based hand rub is the preferred method for routine hand hygiene when hands are not visibly soiled. It is faster, more effective against most organisms, and kinder to skin. Rub all surfaces of the hands for 20 to 30 seconds until dry.
• Soap and water should be used when hands are visibly dirty or contaminated with body fluids, after using the toilet, and when caring for patients with suspected or confirmed Clostridioides difficile or norovirus, because alcohol does not reliably kill spores or some viruses. Wash for 40 to 60 seconds.

Good hand hygiene practice

• Keep nails short and clean. Do not wear artificial nails or nail extensions in clinical areas.
• Remove wrist and hand jewellery; a plain wedding band is often permitted.
• Follow a “bare below the elbows” policy in clinical areas where required.
• Cover cuts and abrasions with waterproof dressings.
• Use emollient hand creams regularly to protect skin. Damaged skin harbours more bacteria and makes hand hygiene painful.
• Gloves do not replace hand hygiene. Perform hand hygiene before putting on and after removing gloves.

Standard precautions

Standard precautions are the minimum IPC practices applied to all patients, in all settings, regardless of whether infection is suspected or confirmed. They are based on the principle that all blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions (except sweat), non-intact skin and mucous membranes may contain transmissible organisms. Standard precautions include:

• Hand hygiene.
• Use of PPE based on risk assessment.
• Respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette.
• Patient placement based on infection risk.
• Safe injection practices.
• Safe handling of sharps.
• Cleaning and disinfection of equipment and the environment.
• Safe handling of linen and waste.
• Management of blood and body fluid spills.
• Aseptic technique for invasive procedures.

Transmission-based precautions

For patients known or suspected to have certain infections, additional precautions are used alongside standard precautions.

Contact precautions

Used for organisms spread by direct or indirect contact, such as MRSA, VRE, Clostridioides difficile, norovirus and scabies. Measures include a single room where possible, gloves and aprons or gowns for contact with the patient or environment, dedicated equipment, and enhanced cleaning.

Droplet precautions

Used for organisms spread by larger respiratory droplets over short distances, such as influenza, pertussis (whooping cough) and meningococcal disease. Measures include a single room or cohorting, a surgical mask when close to the patient, and asking the patient to wear a mask during transport if tolerated.

Airborne precautions

Used for organisms that remain suspended in the air and can travel further, such as tuberculosis, measles and chickenpox. Measures include an airborne infection isolation room with negative pressure where available, or a well-ventilated single room, and fit-tested respirators (such as N95 or FFP2/FFP3) for staff. Only staff with immunity should care for patients with measles or chickenpox where possible.

Understanding of respiratory transmission evolved considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic, with growing recognition that some respiratory viruses spread through smaller aerosols in poorly ventilated spaces. Ventilation is increasingly recognised as an important part of IPC.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

PPE protects health workers and patients from exposure to infectious agents. It includes gloves, aprons, gowns, surgical masks, respirators, eye protection (goggles or face shields) and, in specific settings, head and foot covers. Choice of PPE is based on a risk assessment of the task, the likely exposure and the organism.

Putting on (donning) and taking off (doffing)

The order of donning and doffing matters, because contamination often occurs during removal. A common sequence is:

• Donning: hand hygiene, apron or gown, mask or respirator (with a fit check), eye protection, then gloves.
• Doffing: gloves, hand hygiene, apron or gown, hand hygiene, eye protection, mask or respirator (handling only the straps), and finally hand hygiene.

Follow your local policy, which may vary slightly. Practise doffing carefully, using a buddy or mirror for high-risk situations.

Gloves: use wisely

Gloves are essential when contact with blood, body fluids, mucous membranes or non-intact skin is anticipated. However, overuse of gloves is common. Wearing gloves for tasks that do not need them, or keeping the same gloves on between tasks or patients, spreads organisms, wastes resources, creates plastic waste and damages skin. Change gloves between patients and between dirty and clean tasks on the same patient, and perform hand hygiene after removal.

Aseptic technique

Aseptic technique prevents organisms from entering the body during invasive procedures such as inserting cannulas and catheters, wound care and preparing intravenous medicines. Many organisations use the Aseptic Non Touch Technique (ANTT) framework, which focuses on identifying and protecting “key parts” (the parts of equipment that, if contaminated, could cause infection) and “key sites” (such as wounds and insertion sites). Core principles include hand hygiene, preparing a clean work surface, using sterile equipment, not touching key parts or key sites, and choosing standard or surgical aseptic technique according to the complexity of the procedure.

Preventing device-related infections

Urinary catheters (CAUTI)

• Avoid catheters unless there is a clear indication. Consider alternatives such as intermittent catheterisation, external catheters or bladder scanning.
• Insert using aseptic technique with a closed drainage system.
• Keep the drainage bag below bladder level and off the floor.
• Maintain unobstructed flow.
• Do not disconnect the closed system unnecessarily.
• Review the need for the catheter every day and remove it as soon as it is no longer needed. Nurse-led catheter removal protocols are effective.

Central venous catheters (CLABSI)

Care bundles combining several evidence-based practices have dramatically reduced CLABSI rates in many intensive care units worldwide. Key elements include hand hygiene, maximal sterile barrier precautions during insertion, chlorhexidine skin antisepsis, choosing the best insertion site, daily review of the line’s necessity, and careful maintenance: scrubbing hubs before access, keeping dressings clean, dry and intact, and changing administration sets as recommended.

Peripheral intravenous cannulas

Peripheral cannulas are the most common invasive device in hospitals and can cause bloodstream infections, including serious Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia. Insert only when needed, use aseptic technique, assess the site at least every shift using a phlebitis score, document insertion date, and remove promptly when no longer needed or at the first sign of phlebitis.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia

Prevention bundles include raising the head of the bed to 30 to 45 degrees, daily sedation breaks and assessment for readiness to breathe without the ventilator, oral care, subglottic secretion drainage where available, and preventing condensate from flowing into the airway.

Surgical site infections

Nurses contribute to SSI prevention before, during and after surgery: patient showering before surgery, avoiding hair removal with razors (using clippers if needed), timely antibiotic prophylaxis, maintaining normal body temperature and blood sugar, aseptic dressing changes, and teaching patients to recognise wound infection. See our guide to surgical site infection prevention.

Environmental cleaning and decontamination

The healthcare environment can be a reservoir for organisms such as Clostridioides difficile spores, norovirus, MRSA and carbapenem-resistant bacteria, which can survive on surfaces for days to months. Effective cleaning requires clear responsibilities, appropriate products, attention to frequently touched surfaces (bed rails, call bells, door handles, keyboards, monitors), and auditing. Shared equipment such as blood pressure cuffs, thermometers and commodes must be cleaned between patients. Nurses should know which cleaning and disinfection products to use for different organisms and equipment, and who is responsible for cleaning each item.

Safe injection practices and sharps safety

Unsafe injection practices, including reuse of syringes and needles, remain a cause of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV transmission in some parts of the world. The World Health Organization recommends one needle, one syringe, one time, and the use of safety-engineered syringes.

Sharps injuries expose health workers to bloodborne viruses. Prevention includes:

• Using safety-engineered devices.
• Never recapping used needles.
• Disposing of sharps immediately at the point of use into a sharps container.
• Not overfilling sharps containers.
• Taking care when handling sharps during emergencies.

After a sharps or splash injury

1. Encourage the wound to bleed gently; do not suck it.
2. Wash with soap and running water; rinse eyes or mouth with water.
3. Report immediately to your manager and occupational health or emergency department.
4. A risk assessment will determine whether post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV or hepatitis B is needed. HIV post-exposure prophylaxis should ideally start within hours.
5. Follow-up blood tests and support are provided.

Sepsis: recognising infection that becomes life-threatening

Sepsis occurs when the body’s response to infection damages its own organs. It is a leading cause of death worldwide. Early recognition and treatment save lives, and nurses are often first to notice. Warning signs include fever or low temperature, fast breathing, fast heart rate, low blood pressure, new confusion, mottled or cold skin, reduced urine output, and a patient or family member saying “something is very wrong”. Use early warning scores and sepsis screening tools, escalate promptly, and support rapid treatment with antibiotics, fluids and monitoring according to local protocols.

Antimicrobial resistance and stewardship

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to medicines that used to treat them. It is one of the greatest threats to global health, with bacterial AMR directly causing over a million deaths a year and contributing to millions more. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals drive resistance, while poor IPC allows resistant organisms to spread.

Nurses support antimicrobial stewardship by:

• Taking cultures before starting antibiotics where possible.
• Giving antibiotics on time, especially in sepsis.
• Prompting daily review of the need, choice, dose and duration of antibiotics.
• Supporting timely switches from intravenous to oral therapy.
• Clarifying allergy labels, as inaccurate penicillin allergy labels lead to use of broader, less effective antibiotics.
• Educating patients that antibiotics do not work for viral infections, and that they should take them exactly as prescribed.
• Preventing infections in the first place, reducing the need for antibiotics.

Outbreak management

An outbreak is an increase in cases of infection above what is expected, or two or more linked cases. Common outbreaks in healthcare include norovirus, influenza, COVID-19, Clostridioides difficile and multidrug-resistant organisms. Nurses play a key role in early detection by recognising clusters of symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting or respiratory illness. Outbreak management usually involves:

• Informing the IPC team promptly.
• Isolating or cohorting affected patients.
• Enhanced hand hygiene, PPE and cleaning.
• Restricting admissions, transfers and visiting where necessary.
• Excluding symptomatic staff from work until they are symptom-free for the required period (for example, 48 hours after the last episode for norovirus).
• Collecting specimens.
• Communicating clearly with patients, families and staff.

Respiratory hygiene and vaccination

Respiratory hygiene, sometimes called cough etiquette, includes covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, disposing of tissues promptly, performing hand hygiene, and offering masks to patients with respiratory symptoms in waiting areas. Vaccination of health workers against influenza, hepatitis B, measles, varicella, pertussis and COVID-19, in line with national recommendations, protects both staff and vulnerable patients. Staff who are unwell with infectious symptoms should not come to work.

IPC in different settings

Care homes and long-term care

Residents are often frail, live closely together and share communal spaces, making them vulnerable to outbreaks. IPC in care homes balances infection risk with residents’ quality of life and dignity.

Community and home care

Nurses working in patients’ homes must adapt IPC practices to varied environments, carrying hand rub, PPE and appropriate waste disposal supplies.

Low-resource settings

Many health facilities worldwide lack reliable running water, soap, hand rub, sanitation and waste management. The WHO and UNICEF have highlighted that a significant proportion of health facilities in low-income countries lack basic water and hygiene services. Locally produced alcohol-based hand rub, using the WHO formulation, has been a cost-effective solution in many places. Nurses in these settings often lead creative, practical improvements.

Maternity and neonatal care

Clean birth practices, hand hygiene, clean cord care, early and exclusive breastfeeding, and skin-to-skin contact prevent infections in mothers and newborns. Neonatal units must take particular care to prevent outbreaks among vulnerable babies.

Building an IPC culture

Lasting improvement in IPC depends on culture, not just rules. Multimodal strategies, combining system change (such as hand rub at every bedside), education, monitoring and feedback, reminders in the workplace, and a strong institutional safety climate, work best. Nurses can champion IPC by role modelling, reminding colleagues respectfully (and accepting reminders), involving patients and families, and participating as IPC link nurses on their units. Leaders must provide the time, resources and staffing needed to make good practice possible.

A brief history of infection prevention in nursing

Nursing and infection prevention have been linked from the profession’s modern beginnings. In the 1850s, Florence Nightingale and her nurses improved sanitation, ventilation, nutrition and cleanliness in military hospitals during the Crimean War, and Nightingale used statistics to show that many more soldiers died from preventable diseases than from wounds. Around the same time, Ignaz Semmelweis showed that handwashing with chlorinated lime dramatically reduced deaths from childbed fever on maternity wards, though his ideas were initially rejected. Later, Joseph Lister introduced antiseptic surgery. In the twentieth century, the first infection control nurses were appointed in hospitals in the United Kingdom and United States, and today infection prevention specialist nurses lead IPC programmes in many countries. This history is a reminder that simple measures, consistently applied and backed by data, have always been at the heart of infection prevention.

Surveillance: measuring infections to prevent them

Surveillance is the systematic collection, analysis and feedback of data on infections. It allows organisations to know their infection rates, spot trends and outbreaks early, measure the impact of interventions and compare performance. Common surveillance targets include bloodstream infections, surgical site infections, Clostridioides difficile, multidrug-resistant organisms and device-associated infections in intensive care. Feeding back surveillance results to frontline teams, ideally in simple visual formats, motivates improvement. Nurses contribute by accurate documentation of devices, symptoms and specimens, prompt specimen collection, and recognising and reporting unusual patterns.

Screening and decolonisation

Many hospitals screen certain patients on admission for organisms such as MRSA or carbapenem-resistant bacteria, particularly those at high risk, such as patients transferred from other hospitals, those admitted to intensive care, or those who have recently been treated abroad. Patients found to carry these organisms may be isolated and, for MRSA, offered decolonisation treatment with antiseptic body washes and nasal ointment, which reduces the risk of infection, particularly before surgery. Screening policies vary between countries and organisations. Nurses explain screening to patients, collect swabs correctly, and make sure results are acted upon.

Clostridioides difficile: a closer look

Clostridioides difficile (often called C. diff) is a bacterium that can cause diarrhoea ranging from mild to life-threatening colitis. It is strongly associated with antibiotic use, which disrupts the normal gut bacteria, and with older age and long hospital stays. Its spores survive on surfaces for months and are not killed by alcohol hand rub. Key nursing actions include:

• Isolating patients with suspected infective diarrhoea promptly, before results are available (“suspect, isolate, test”).
• Sending a stool sample promptly.
• Using soap and water for hand hygiene, and gloves and aprons for contact.
• Using chlorine-based or sporicidal cleaning products as directed.
• Recording stool frequency and consistency using a stool chart.
• Monitoring for dehydration and signs of severe disease, such as abdominal distension, high fever and rising white cell count.
• Prompting review of antibiotics, acid-reducing medicines and laxatives.

Waste management and linen

Safe handling of healthcare waste protects patients, staff, waste handlers and communities. Waste should be segregated at the point of generation into categories such as infectious waste, sharps, pharmaceutical waste and general waste, using colour-coded bags and containers according to local regulations. Overclassifying general waste as infectious increases costs and environmental impact, while underclassifying infectious waste creates risks. Used linen should be handled with minimal agitation, bagged at the bedside, and soiled or infectious linen placed in designated bags. In many low-resource settings, safe waste disposal remains a major challenge that requires investment and advocacy.

Ventilation and the built environment

The design of healthcare facilities affects infection risk. Adequate ventilation dilutes and removes airborne organisms; well-placed hand hygiene stations make compliance easier; single rooms support isolation; and surfaces that are easy to clean reduce reservoirs. Water systems must be managed to prevent organisms such as Legionella and Pseudomonas, which can grow in taps, sinks and drains. Nurses working on design or refurbishment projects can bring valuable practical insights, such as where hand rub should be placed, how equipment should be stored, and how patient flow affects infection risk.

IPC link nurses and champions

Many organisations have IPC link nurses or champions: frontline nurses who receive additional training and act as a bridge between their unit and the specialist IPC team. Link nurses role model good practice, update colleagues on guidance, carry out audits such as hand hygiene and environmental cleanliness, support outbreak management, and feed back concerns. This role is an excellent development opportunity for nurses interested in IPC, quality improvement or leadership, and can be a first step towards a career as an IPC specialist nurse.

Emerging infections and preparedness

Outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging infections, such as Ebola, Marburg, mpox, avian influenza, cholera, diphtheria and new coronaviruses, have repeatedly shown that health workers, especially nurses, are at the front line and at risk. During the West Africa Ebola epidemic of 2014 to 2016, many health workers were infected, and nurses were among those who died. During the COVID-19 pandemic, large numbers of nurses worldwide became infected, and many died. These experiences highlight the need for preparedness: up-to-date training in high-level PPE, rapid identification and isolation of suspected cases, clear pathways for referral and testing, adequate supplies, and psychological support for staff. Every nurse should know how to recognise and isolate a patient who might have a high-consequence infectious disease, particularly someone with fever and a relevant travel or contact history, and who to contact immediately.

See also our guide to mpox nursing care and isolation.

Protecting immunocompromised patients

Patients with weakened immune systems, such as those receiving chemotherapy, organ or bone marrow transplants, high-dose steroids or biologic therapies, and people with advanced HIV, are particularly vulnerable to infections, including from organisms that rarely harm healthy people. Protective measures may include single rooms, careful hand hygiene by everyone entering the room, avoiding contact with staff and visitors who have infections, food safety precautions, and prompt recognition and treatment of fever. Neutropenic sepsis, infection in a patient with very low white blood cells, is a medical emergency requiring antibiotics within one hour.

Patients and families as partners

Patients and families can play an active role in preventing infections. Nurses can encourage them to clean their hands before eating and after using the toilet, to ask staff about hand hygiene, to report symptoms such as diarrhoea, fever or redness around a cannula or wound, to ask whether catheters and lines are still needed, and to avoid visiting when they are unwell. Clear explanations about why isolation or PPE is being used reduce anxiety and stigma, which patients in isolation often experience. Patients in isolation are at risk of loneliness, missed care and falls, so regular checks, clear call bell access and meaningful contact are important.

Skin health for nurses

Frequent hand hygiene and glove use can damage nurses’ skin, causing irritant contact dermatitis. Damaged skin is painful, harbours more bacteria and makes hand hygiene harder to perform. Protecting skin is part of IPC. Use alcohol-based hand rub with added emollients rather than frequent soap and water where appropriate, dry hands thoroughly after washing, apply moisturiser regularly including at breaks and after shifts, avoid wearing gloves when not needed, and report skin problems early to occupational health. See our guide to hand eczema in nurses.

Key IPC principles to remember

• Clean your hands at every one of the 5 Moments.
• Apply standard precautions to every patient, every time.
• Choose PPE based on risk, and take it off carefully.
• Avoid unnecessary devices, and remove them as soon as they are not needed.
• Never recap needles; dispose of sharps at the point of use.
• Isolate early when infection is suspected.
• Recognise and escalate sepsis promptly.
• Support antimicrobial stewardship.
• Stay at home when you are infectious, and keep your vaccinations up to date.

Wound care and infection prevention

Wounds of all kinds, including surgical wounds, pressure injuries, leg ulcers, burns and diabetic foot ulcers, are common sites of infection. Good wound care reduces infection risk and supports healing. Key principles include assessing wounds regularly and documenting size, appearance, exudate and signs of infection; using aseptic or clean technique as appropriate to the wound type; avoiding unnecessary dressing changes, which disturb healing and introduce organisms; managing moisture and protecting surrounding skin; addressing underlying factors such as poor circulation, high blood sugar, poor nutrition and pressure; and recognising signs of infection, including increasing pain, redness spreading from the wound edge, swelling, heat, pus, odour, delayed healing and fever. Swabs should be taken when infection is suspected rather than routinely, because many wounds carry bacteria without being infected. Patients going home with wounds should be taught how to care for them and which signs mean they should seek help.

Food and water safety in healthcare

Patients in hospital are often more vulnerable to foodborne and waterborne infections. Nurses help by ensuring patients clean their hands before meals, storing food brought in by families safely and labelling it, not reheating food beyond recommended limits, keeping ward kitchens and fridges clean with monitored temperatures, and following guidance for patients with weakened immunity. Clean water for drinking and hygiene is fundamental; where tap water safety is uncertain, safe alternatives must be provided, particularly for newborns, immunocompromised patients and those undergoing invasive procedures.

Auditing and feedback

Regular audits of IPC practice, such as observing hand hygiene, checking cleanliness of equipment, reviewing device documentation and assessing PPE use, show where practice is strong and where improvement is needed. Audits are most useful when they are carried out fairly, results are fed back promptly and constructively, and teams agree actions together. Avoid audits becoming a tick-box exercise or a source of blame; their purpose is learning and improvement. Celebrate good results as well as addressing gaps, and track trends over time to show progress.

Career opportunities in infection prevention

Infection prevention and control offers a rewarding career path for nurses who enjoy combining clinical knowledge, education, data and leadership. IPC specialist nurses advise on clinical practice, investigate outbreaks, lead surveillance, write policies, deliver training, advise on building design, and work closely with microbiologists, pharmacists and public health teams. Many countries offer postgraduate certificates, diplomas and master’s degrees in infection prevention, and professional certification through national and international IPC associations. Experience as a link nurse, involvement in audits and outbreak responses, and an interest in quality improvement are good foundations. The COVID-19 pandemic raised the profile of IPC professionals and highlighted the shortage of trained IPC staff worldwide, making this an area of growing opportunity.

Infection prevention when time is short

On busy shifts, IPC steps can feel like obstacles. But many measures take only seconds: a 20-second hand rub, a quick check of whether a catheter is still needed, a fresh pair of gloves between tasks, a wipe of shared equipment. Building these into routine, placing supplies where they are needed, and reminding each other kindly makes good practice the easiest option. Infections prevented also save time later, avoiding the extra care, isolation and treatment they demand.

Remember too that the patient in the bed, the colleague beside you and your own family at home all benefit from every infection that is prevented. Infection prevention is one of the most powerful forms of care nurses provide, even though, when it works, nobody notices anything happened.

Frequently asked questions

Should patients remind staff to clean their hands?

Many organisations encourage patients and families to ask staff whether they have cleaned their hands. Nurses should welcome these reminders as part of a culture of safety.

Can I wear my uniform outside work?

Policies vary, but many organisations advise changing out of uniform before leaving work and washing uniforms at the recommended temperature, to reduce the spread of organisms and maintain public confidence.

Is hand rub as good as handwashing?

For routine hand hygiene, alcohol-based hand rub is generally more effective. Use soap and water when hands are visibly soiled or when caring for patients with Clostridioides difficile or norovirus.

How often should sharps containers be emptied?

Seal and replace sharps containers when they reach the fill line, usually about three-quarters full, and never force sharps into an overfilled container.

Do I need a respirator or a surgical mask?

This depends on the organism and procedure. Respirators are used for airborne infections such as tuberculosis and measles, and for aerosol-generating procedures. Follow your organisation’s guidance and ensure you are fit-tested.

But what if my workplace lacks the basics?

Too many nurses work without reliable water, enough hand rub, adequate PPE or time to follow best practice. In these situations, do what you can safely, document shortages and their impact, report them formally, and work with colleagues and IPC leads to find practical solutions, such as locally produced hand rub, prioritising PPE for highest-risk tasks, and cohorting patients. Join or support advocacy through professional associations and unions for safe working conditions. Infection prevention protects patients and nurses alike, and it is a basic right, not a luxury.

Related: WHO 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene · Surgical site infection prevention · Medication safety: the complete guide

Sources: World Health Organization (Global report on infection prevention and control 2022 and 2024; core components of IPC programmes; guidelines on hand hygiene in health care; WHO/UNICEF WASH in health care facilities), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee guidelines), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Pronovost et al. (central line infection bundle), Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance (GRAM) study, Surviving Sepsis Campaign.