Infection control in the UK: an antimicrobial resistance perspective

Authors

  • Elecia Jaime Henry Staffordshire University
  • Robert Smith University of Central Lancashire
  • Michael Collins Chesterfield Royal Hospital
  • Susan Bird Staffordshire University
  • Pauline Gowland Stafforshire University
  • John Paul Cassella Staffordshire University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3396/ijic.v13i2.17651

Abstract

The spread of healthcare-associated infections has become a matter of global concern. These infections, which were once isolated to hospital settings, have emerged in the community. Reduced infection control practices are a major cause of this rapid spread of infections, which has led to the increase in the occurrence of multi-drug resistant organisms. The state of infection control in the United Kingdom is of extreme importance because of several reported cases of infections caused by these organisms. In addition to antimicrobial usage in human medicine, antimicrobial agents used in agriculture must be considered as major factors in the prevalence of resistant organisms and the implications to the UK. However, this increased occurrence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria and their resulting infections could be reduced with the application of effective policies for antibiotic use in agricultural environments, stringent decontamination and sterilisation techniques and better regulations that encourage the search for, and development of, new and novel drugs.

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Author Biographies

Elecia Jaime Henry, Staffordshire University

P/T Lecturer (Hrly) - Biology and PhD candidate, Department of Biological Sciences

Robert Smith, University of Central Lancashire

Senior Lecturer, Chemistry

Michael Collins, Chesterfield Royal Hospital

Biomedical Science Team Manager, Microbiology Department

Susan Bird, Staffordshire University

Senior Lecturer, Biological Sciences

Pauline Gowland, Stafforshire University

Senior Lecturer, Biological Sciences

John Paul Cassella, Staffordshire University

Professor, Criminal Justice and Forensic Science

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Published

2017-12-11

How to Cite

Henry, E. J., Smith, R., Collins, M., Bird, S., Gowland, P., & Cassella, J. P. (2017). Infection control in the UK: an antimicrobial resistance perspective. International Journal of Infection Control, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.3396/ijic.v13i2.17651

Issue

Section

Review Articles