Day 1 - 29 April 2025

07:45 – 09:00

Registration, Coffee and Networking

09:00 – 09:05

Chairs Introduction

Rose Gallagher – Professional Lead Sustainability – Royal College of Nursing (Invited)

09:05 – 09:25

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry – An Opportunity to Learn and Reset IPC

Rose Gallagher – Professional Lead Sustainability – Royal College of Nursing (Invited)

09:25 – 09:45

Emerging Threats to UK Diagnostics 

Zoonotic overspill of rapidly mutating respiratory viruses are the likeliest candidates that pose pandemic risk. They also pose a threat to existing diagnostics. In 2025, the globe has seen a rapid expansion of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza with demonstrated species expansion within H5N1 strains. In the US, species expansion has been observed in H5N1 B3.13, D1.1 and D1.2 genotypes, with transmission events identified in species that are not usually hosts for H5N1 including cattle. There have also been several zoonotic spillover events and to date, the CDC have reported 67 human cases. HPAI are contained within Influenza A, which frontline diagnostic tests are designed to detect. However, zoonotic overspill and species expansion of the virus increases the rate of mutation to allow the virus to adapt to the host. An increase in mutation rate will increase the risk of diagnostic test failure. Correct diagnosis is critical to ensure identification of the first few cases and effective containment to prevent a pandemic. This talk will provide an overview of the risk to diagnostic tests and how we can provide ongoing assurance. 

Dr. Lisa Stevens – Head of Pathogen Diagnostics Assurance Group – Senior Scientific Advisor – UKHSA (Confirmed)

09:45 – 10:05

Killer Fungal Diseases – Hiding in Plain Sight

Improved diagnostics and knowledge of fungal disease shows just how common these are amongst diverse patient groups: COPD, intensive care, premature neonates, leukaemia, lymphoma and lung cancer patients, transplant recipients, cystic fibrosis, those with chronic chest diseases and/or taking corticosteroids. Are the global and UK impact of these infections, focusing on aspergillosis, candidiasis and pneumocystis will be highlighted, along with approaches to diagnosis and surveillance.

Prof. David Denning – Professor of Infectious Diseases in Global Health, University of Manchester & GAFFI – Global Action for Fungal Infection (Confirmed)

10:05 – 10:25

Infections in Urology: The Importance of Prevention and Effective Treatment 

Urological care often involves invasive procedures, all of which carry the risk of introducing infection to an otherwise ‘sterile’ body system. From simple UTIs, to more complex, serious infections, such as pyelonephritis, post-op infections and septicaemia, the importance of prevention and treatment of infection in urological healthcare remains paramount. This session will summarise the key areas of risk in the patient journey and highlight the importance of minimising the risks of infection by delivering safe, clean care to patients. 

Mary Garthwaite – Chair of The Urology Foundation & Former Consultant Urological Surgeon (Confirmed)

Helen Lake – UTI Information Nurse – The Urology Foundation (Confirmed)

10:25 – 10:45

Industry Insight into Infection Prevention and Control

10:45 – 10:55

Questions and Answers

10:55 – 11:25

Morning Coffee and Networking

11:25 – 12:05

Urinary Catheter Development

11:25 – 12:05

Identifying and Treating Fungal Infection

11:25 – 12:05

C. diff and the Benefits of FMT

12:05 – 12:10

Transition

12:10 – 12:50

CAUTI Reduction

This presentation investigates how new external Catheter Solutions for Male and Female urinary incontinence management can help protect vulnerable patients from the risk of unwanted CAUTI infection whilst providing safe, effective and comfortable alternatives to single use pads, condom catheters or in certain circumstances, indwelling catheters. 

Elliot Stackhouse – National Sales Manager– iMEDicare (Confirmed)

12:10 – 12:50

Diagnostic Innovation

12:10 – 12:50

UTI – Pharmaceutical Advances

12:50 – 14:00

Afternoon Lunch, Coffee and Networking

14:00 – 14:30

Optimising the Use of Antimicrobials

A reminder of the commitments of the UK antimicrobial resistance (AMR) National Action Plan 2024-29 under the theme of optimising the use of antimicrobials and an update on the progress of work led by NHS England and partner organisations to deliver against these commitments. Delegates will also learn about the contribution they can make to confront AMR in their roles as health professionals working in different healthcare settings.

Tony Avery – National Clinical Director for Prescribing – NHS England – GP and Professor of Primary Health Care – University of Nottingham (Confirmed)

Dr Kieran Hand – National Clinical Lead for Pharmacy & Prescribing, NHS England (Confirmed)

14:00 – 14:30

THINK CATHETER! THINK CAUTI! 

In 2025 CAUTI (catheter associated urinary tract infection) remains a significant healthcare burden. It has profound consequences for the patient, the NHS and the growing, worldwide problem of antimicrobial resistance. This session will look at the current situation in the UK and discuss the ways in which we can all work to reduce the scourge of CAUTI, by effectively managing the risks associated with catheter use. We as the question: ‘Is it time for a national campaign on catheter care?’ THINK CATHETER! THINK CAUTI! 

Mary Garthwaite – Chair of The Urology Foundation & Former Consultant Urological Surgeon (Confirmed)

Helen Lake – UTI Information Nurse – The Urology Foundation (Confirmed)

14:00 – 14:30

How IPC do Things with Numbers?

The presentation is based on the PhD thesis Doing things with numbers. The starting point for the thesis was the exploration of the mantra of the need for a data-driven healthcare system. The question to be answered was how infection prevention and control teams use data to drive preventive actions
The presentation contributes to understanding data, their reading and thus their place in a prevention technology like a surveillance system. The multimodality of how data is read and presented in form of graphics, language and numbers is presented. The message is that the person who reads and presents data is in a powerful position and can thus directly influence the action to be taken. It is therefore suggested that reading and reporting data is done in close collaboration in the infection control team and that it is always conditional on a professional dialogue about the meaning of the data and its implementation of action.

Jette Holt – Infection Prevention and Control Nurse – Statens Serum Institute (Confirmed)

14:30 – 14:40

Transition

14:40 – 15:05

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) – Optimising Patient Management from Sample to Treatment 

50–60% of women estimated to have at least one episode of uncomplicated urinary tract infection in their lifetime. UTIs have a major psychological, economical and social impact on women especially for those experiencing recurrent UTIs.
Optimisation of urinary Tract infection (UTI) management will lead to improved patient quality of life, saving resources and can contribute to fighting antibiotic resistance.

Dr Peter Gayo Munthali – Clinical Lead – Department of Microbiology – University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (Confirmed)

15:05 – 15:30

Moving forward from the RCN Standards for infusion therapy 2016; An introduction to the new 2025 NIVAS UK IV Therapy and Vascular Access Standards for Practice

The 2016 RCN Standards for infusion therapy have been adopted by NIVAS who have updated them and included more standards relating to IV therapy and vascular access clinical practice. This presentation will introduce the conference to these updated standards and demonstrate how these can be adopted into clinical practice to improve patient outcomes and safety.

Andrew Barton – National Infusion and Vascular Access Society Nurse Consultant IV Therapy and Vascular Access, IVAS Lead Nurse, FHFT Product Selection Group Chair (Confirmed)

15:30 – 15:40

Questions and Answers

15:40 – 16:10

Afternoon Coffee and Networking

16:10 – 16:30

Reducing Surgical Site Infections in Vascular Surgery

The extent of the problem. Risk factors for SSI’s, National Wound Care Strategy recommendations in practice. Research trials informing practice

Jane Todhunter – Advanced Nurse Practitioner. President – Society of Vascular Nurses (Confirmed)

16:30 – 16:50

How can Technology Aid Infection Prevention and Control?

Infection prevention and control (IPC) in hospital settings is critical for reducing nosocomial infections. This presentation will explore the findings of a systematic literature review investigating the use of robots and smart environments in IPC systems within healthcare facilities. Conducted between 2016 and 2022, the review revealed that while automation and robotics offer promising solutions for enhancing IPC – particularly in areas like hand hygiene, infection detection, and environmental cleaning – adoption remains limited. The talk will highlight key findings from the 17 included studies and discuss the need to engage healthcare workers in the design and deployment of such technology.

In addition to reviewing current advancements, I will present the Horizon2020-funded ODIN project, which aims to implement robotic and AI-driven innovations for IPC in hospitals. This project is advancing the development of smart environments to support healthcare staff and create safer, more efficient hospital operations.

Join this session to explore how robotics and automation can revolutionize hospital infection control.

Davide Piaggio – Assistant Professor, School of Engineering, University of Warwick (Confirmed)

16:50 – 17:00

Questions and Answers

17:00

Close of Day 1

Day 2 - 30 April 2025

07:45 – 09:10

Registration, Coffee and Networking

09:10 – 09:15

Chairs Introduction

Rose Gallagher MBE – Professional Lead Sustainability – Royal College of Nursing (Invited)

09:15 – 09:55

Preventing Airborne Transmission – Why this is Critical?

Rose Gallagher MBE – Professional Lead Sustainability – Royal College of Nursing (Invited)

Dr. Evonne CurranRetired Nurse Consultant in Infection Prevention and Control (Invited)

09:55 – 10:05

Questions and Answers

10:05 – 10:25

Water Hygiene – Working Together

The presentation will discuss how assembling a multi-disciplinary team can enhance the fight against waterborne diseases.

Peter Orendecki – EFCD Contract and Support Manager – University Hospital Southampton (Confirmed)

10:25 – 10:45

Industry Insight into Infection Prevention and Control

10:45 – 10:55

Questions and Answers

10:55 – 11:25

Morning Coffee and Networking

11:25 – 12:05

Revolutionising Infection Control: Airborne Pathogen Monitoring and Decontamination

The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical role aerosols play in the transmission of infectious diseases. Research by Evans et al. (2021) estimated that up to 20% of SARS-CoV-2 infections among inpatients and 73% among healthcare workers (HCWs) in the UK were due to nosocomial transmission (https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2020.0268). Similarly, diseases such as Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) are increasingly believed to spread through airborne pathways, exacerbated by phenomena like ‘toilet plumes,’ where flushing disperses spores into the surrounding air (Best et al., 2012, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2011.08.010).

This airborne transmission presents significant challenges to hospital infection management and control teams. With rising demand for hospital beds, timely decontamination and infection control are critical to prevent ward closures. However, current methods for air sampling and pathogen detection remain inadequate for point-of-care testing, making rapid infection control decisions difficult to implement.

Dr. Affar S. Karimullah – Chief Technology Officer – Pinpoint Medical (Confirmed)

11:25 – 12:05

Sustainable Infection Control 

11:25 – 12:05

The Future of Surface Disinfection

An interactive and engaging workshop exploring the critical role of surface disinfection in reducing healthcare-associated infections and the spread of antimicrobial-resistant organisms. Through audience polls and expert insights, we’ll examine current disinfection practices, the limitations of existing guidelines, and the advantages and challenges of using a sporicidal disinfectant – such as chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) – on healthcare surfaces. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation shaping the future of infection prevention.

Dr. Jon Otter – Director of IPC & Consultant Clinical Scientist- Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (Confirmed)

Dr. Phil Norville – Infection Prevention and Control Manager – Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Confirmed)

12:05 – 12:10

Transition

12:10 – 12:50

Disinfectant Efficacy

12:10 – 12:50

Eradicating Surface Infections

12:10 – 12:50

Deploying Antimicrobial Coatings

12:50 – 14:00

Afternoon Lunch, Coffee and Networking

14:00 – 14:30

Alternatives to Antibiotics: Advances in Antimicrobial Materials and Surfaces

Antibiotics are one of the most significant advancements in human history because of the substantial increase in life expectancy and quality of life they provided. The overuse of antibiotics since their inception, however, has led us to our current predicament of potentially returning to the medical dark ages given the rise in antibiotic resistant pathogens. Therefore, it is of prime importance to develop new antimicrobial agents that do not contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Nature over millennia has evolved ingenious strategies to tackle infections and many of these approaches can be mimicked as efficient alternatives to antibiotics. This talk will focus on bioinspired approaches to tackle infections by using nitric oxide and antimicrobial peptides. Nitric oxide is the first line of defence produced by the body to invading pathogens. Antimicrobial peptides are produced by almost every living organism to fight off infections. Incorporating both agents into materials and surfaces has the potential to usher in the next generation of infection control.

Prof. Raechelle D’Sa – Professor of Antimicrobial Biomaterials – University of Liverpool (Confirmed)

14:00 – 14:30

Disinfection Efficacy of Domestic Laundering of Healthcare Textiles and the Potential for Transmission of Antibiotic Resistance

Infection control measures in hospitals primarily target hard surfaces and hand hygiene. However, less attention is given to the disinfection of healthcare textiles, which can also act as sources of infection. In the UK, hospital-associated bed linens and scrubs are typically managed through in-house or industrial laundering processes that are well-regulated to minimize microbial contamination. In contrast, healthcare uniforms are often laundered domestically, where standards may not be as stringent. This presentation will examine the disinfection performance of domestic laundry machines (DLMs), their microbiome including the presence of antibiotic resistance genes and tolerance to domestic detergents and their potential role in transmitting hospital-acquired infections and antibiotic resistance. 

Prof. Katie Laird – Professor of Microbiology – Head of the Infectious Disease Research Group – De Montfort University (Confirmed)

14:00 – 14:30

The IPC and Estates Team Experience of Opening a New Hospital

The Midland Metropolitan University Hospital opened in October 2024 to serve the communities of Sandwell and West Birmingham. It is one of the largest healthcare facilities to be built in the UK in the last decade with 736 beds, 13 Theatres, 13 Adult inpatient wards, 2 Children’s wards and 2 maternity wards and a host of imaging and other essential services. A hospital is one of the most complex buildings to ever plan and open. IPC in the built environment is a consideration from design to build and from fitting out to opening, to ensure IPC becomes as intuitive as possible for the patients and staff who will use the facility for generations to come. This is the experience of a Trust IPC and Estates Team working with the building company to address and find solutions to the IPC issues arising during the building and fitting out of the hospital, up to, and after the doors were first opened to patients.

David Shakespeare – Deputy Director of Infection Prevention and Control – Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust (Confirmed)

14:30 – 14:40

Transition

14:40 – 15:05

Buying Green, Spending Lean and Keeping Clean

This session will give insight into the carbon hotspots of clinical care, and what to consider when purchasing clinical products. Clare will share some practical examples of moving to reusables, and how she reduced the impact of care on the planet without falling out with her IPC friends.

Clare Nash – Head of Clinical Products Management, Black Country Alliance Procurement Team (Confirmed)

15:05 – 15:30

Case Study – Outbreak Management

Janine Patrickson-Daly – Regional Head of IPC – Northeast and Yorkshire – NHS England (Invited)

Angela Cobb – Associate Director of Nursing – Infection Control – CDDFT – MSc Infection Prevention & Control – IPS – Northeast Branch Coordinator (Invited)

15:30 – 15:40

Questions and Answers

15:40 – 16:10

Afternoon Coffee and Networking

16:10 – 16:30

Collaborative Leadership and Culture Change in Delivering Infection Prevention

This presentation will provide an overview of the journey that the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has been on over the past two years; from NHS oversight through to achieving exemplar status. It will provide insight into quality improvement, increased engagement and ownership and criticality, how collaborative working changed culture. 

Samantha Young – Deputy Chief Nurse – Chief Nursing Information Officer – Deputy Director of Infection Prevention and Control – Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Confirmed)

16:30 – 16:50

Sustainability in Infection Control

Rose Gallagher MBE – Professional Lead Sustainability – Royal College of Nursing (Invited)

16:50 – 17:00

Questions and Answers

17:00

Close of Conference