Research at the cutting edge of practice

Abstract

uccess in reducing the rate of preventable healthcare-associated infections in the NHS can only occur if infection prevention and control practice is firmly based on the best available evidence of effectiveness. We know best evidence when we see it, because we have systematically searched for it, appraised its methodological quality and assessed its clinical relevance. Without evidence, we would be back in the dark ages of practice, being guided only by diverse expert opinion and ritual. Identifying evidence and processing it so that the best available evidence can be incorporated into everyday clinical practice is an essential component of HCAI research. Developing new areas of enquiry to expand the evidence base for preventing infection during health care is equally important. As the Department of Health this month establishes a national HCAI Research Network in the Richard Wells Research Centre at Thames Valley University (TVU) London, this review describes the work of the only nursing research centre in a British university focused on preventing HCAI.