This October we mark International Infection Prevention and Control Week, which runs from 19 to 25 October 2025. It is a simple reminder that the small things we do every day protect patients, colleagues and families.
Over the past few years we have all seen how quickly infections can spread and how easily services become stretched. From winter respiratory surges to antimicrobial resistance and healthcare-associated infections, infection prevention remains one of the most effective ways to keep people safe, well and reduce avoidable admissions.
For nurses, infection prevention is part of everything we do. Whether we are giving an injection, cleaning a wound or supporting a patient with daily care, our actions directly influence outcomes. It is also one of the areas where small changes in practice can make a big difference.
This year’s theme for International Infection Prevention and Control Week focuses on the idea of collective responsibility. Infection control is not just about following policies or wearing the right Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). It is about creating a culture of safety where every member of the healthcare team plays their part in protecting one another and the people we care for.
What Is Infection Prevention And Control?
Infection prevention and control is about stopping infections from spreading within healthcare settings. It includes the simple things we do every day such as hand hygiene, PPE, cleaning, and the safe use of equipment. The aim is to protect patients, staff and visitors from avoidable harm. Good infection prevention is not just about responding to outbreaks, it is about keeping everyone safe every single day.
Why Infection Prevention Measures Are Important
The need for thorough infection prevention measures has never been greater. Across the UK, healthcare settings continue to see rising rates of healthcare-associated infections such as MRSA, E. coli and C. difficile. Many of these are preventable with the right measures in place.
NHS England highlights that infection prevention and control is one of the most effective ways to reduce avoidable harm, shorten hospital stays and cut costs. It protects not just patients, but also healthcare staff and their families.
Since the pandemic, antimicrobial resistance has become an increasing concern. During the height of COVID, antibiotics were often prescribed as a precaution (especially early on when bacterial co-infection was feared). This led to increased and sometimes unnecessary use. When infection control standards slip, such as lapses in hand hygiene, cleaning or isolation, infection rates rise, and so does the use of antibiotics. The more antibiotics are used, the greater the chance of resistance developing.
We also know that winter pressures put infection prevention to the test. Busy wards, staff shortages and high turnover all increase the risk of cross infection. Even small lapses in routine practice can lead to outbreaks that quickly spread through teams or wards.
Strong infection prevention starts with awareness and consistent action. From good hand hygiene to cleaning shared equipment, it is often the simple habits that protect the most vulnerable patients.
Nurses’ Role
Nurses are at the centre of infection prevention. We are often the first to spot early signs of infection, changes in a patient’s condition or gaps in practice that could lead to risk. Infection prevention is not something that happens once a policy is written. It should live in our daily actions and decisions.
When we follow the correct hand hygiene steps, use PPE properly and take time to do things safely, we show that these small details matter. It builds trust, sets an example and reminds others that infection control is everyone’s responsibility — not just the job of one department, and not just another tick-box exercise.
Education is a huge part of this. Taking a moment to explain infection control to patients, families and colleagues helps others understand that it is about protection, not restriction. It also shows the level of care and professionalism that nursing brings.
Teamwork can also make the biggest difference. Infection prevention only works when everyone is involved. Nurses, healthcare assistants, cleaners and ward teams all play a part in keeping environments safe. Clear communication, raising concerns early and supporting each other through busy shifts are what keep standards consistent.
Most of all, infection prevention is about being proactive. It is not about being perfect or ticking boxes. It is about creating a culture where safety is routine, and where every action, no matter how small, contributes to protecting others.
Training and Confidence
Infection prevention training is something every healthcare professional completes, but how often we refresh it makes a huge difference. Over time, habits can slip or we start to do things out of routine rather than best practice. Taking time to revisit training is not just about ticking a box, it is about keeping everyone safe and confident in what they do.
Training is what keeps standards alive. It gives us the knowledge and confidence to act quickly and correctly when infection risks appear. Knowing how to put on and remove PPE safely, how to clean and store equipment or how to isolate a patient confidently means decisions can be made without hesitation. Confidence also helps reduce anxiety for both patients and staff. When we feel sure of what we are doing, patients feel safe too.
Complacency can easily creep in. It is easy to think infection control is something we already know well, but guidance changes all the time. What was acceptable last year might not be good enough now. Regular refresher training helps challenge these habits and brings everyone back to the same standard.
It also helps clear up some of the myths that still exist. Many people believe that wearing gloves removes the need for handwashing, or that hand gel replaces proper washing altogether. Others assume PPE is only needed when a patient looks unwell, or that quick wipes are enough to clean shared equipment. These shortcuts might save a few seconds, but they can lead to real risk. Understanding why each step matters is what prevents that.
Refresher training is not about criticism, it is about consistency. It gives space to reflect, ask questions and rebuild confidence in areas we might overlook during busy shifts. Infection prevention is one of those areas where confidence truly matters. It protects patients, it protects colleagues, and it protects us.
For many nurses, infection control feels second nature, but it should never be taken for granted. Keeping up to date with training ensures standards stay high across every team and setting. It reminds us that infection prevention is not about rules, it is about people.
Health Academy offers an Infection Prevention and Control Training Course designed for all healthcare professionals working in both clinical and community settings. The course covers everything from hand hygiene and PPE to cleaning, waste management and standard precautions. It also explores the principles behind infection control so that you not only know what to do, but understand why it matters. Whether you are new to practice or simply need a refresher, the course provides flexible learning that helps you stay confident, compliant and ready to protect others
Conclusion
Infection prevention and control is at the heart of safe and effective care. It is not just a policy or a task on a checklist, it is part of who we are as healthcare professionals. The way we wash our hands, use PPE, clean equipment and communicate with patients all contributes to keeping people safe.
International Infection Prevention and Control Week is a reminder of why these small actions matter. It is a chance to reflect, refresh and remind ourselves that infection prevention is everyone’s responsibility. Each decision we make can protect a patient, a colleague or a family member.
Taking time to stay up to date through training helps keep standards high and confidence strong. It also ensures that infection control remains part of daily practice rather than something we only think about during outbreaks or inspections.
If you have not refreshed your infection prevention training recently, now is the perfect time. Our Infection Prevention and Control course offers flexible online learning that fits around your schedule and gives you the knowledge, skills and confidence to keep infection control at the centre of everything you do.
Infection Prevention & Control
Infection Prevention and Control Training is incredibly important. The risk of spreading infections in the workplace is ever-present. However, with time, money, and productivity lost to illness and sick days, it’s important that everyone knows the risks, how to stay safe, and keep themselves and everyone around them healthy.
- NHS England. Infection Prevention and Control Guidance (2024). Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/infection-prevention-and-control/
- UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). English Surveillance Programme for Antimicrobial Utilisation and Resistance (ESPAUR) Report (2023). Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/english-surveillance-programme-antimicrobial-utilisation-and-resistance-espaur-report
- World Health Organization (WHO). Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance
- System (GLASS) Report(2024). Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240090655
- Infection Prevention and You (APIC). International Infection Prevention and Control Week
- Resources (2025). Available at: https://infectionpreventionandyou.org/iipcw/
