The COVID-19 pandemic elevated infection prevention and control (IP&C) to the top of the political agenda and heightened awareness of the importance of hand hygiene, appropriate PPE use in health and care settings, as well as the risks posed by airborne transmission of pathogens. It also highlighted the importance of tackling infection in a coordinated way across health and care settings, as well as shining a light on the role of the public and communities in helping to reduce infection transmission.
In 2020 NHSE/I rolled out its vision of the NHS Long Term Plan for Infection Prevention and Control, with strong themes around antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and Gram-Negative bloodstream infections. While the attention of IP&C teams was diverted to managing the COVID crisis, the threat posed by AMR – along with a whole host of healthcare-associated pathogens – remains ever-present.
The Infection Prevention and Control Conference will review the