Dr Ian Hosein is the UK's first Director of Infection Prevention and Control, a position which was subsequently rolled out by the Department of Health in England. He has been a key advocate of the central importance of sound organisational management for optimal infection prevention and control for the last 17 years. He has a keen interest in worldwide issues in infection, including infection control, and was a member of the UNESCO Cymru Wales Committee until 2008. His work on this committee led to a UNESCO Wales grant where he jointly developed distance learning modules for clinical officers in Tanzania (2008) on HIV/STI control. He was also the key committee advocate of the now successful bid for the first UNESCO Chair for Wales (on HIV and Security) based at the University of Aberystwyth (2007). He is the international advisor for the Americas of the Royal College of Pathologists and is currently working with colleagues in the US on fostering closer links for mutual benefit and international development.

Ian also introduced the use of alcohol gel into the mainstream hospital environment in 1996, changed the name Infection Control to 'Infection Prevention & Control' (1995) based on TQM thinking, and created the now common position of Director of Infection Prevention and Control (2000) at the Cardiff & Vale NHS Trust as outcomes of his ideas on organisational management in hospital infection.

To read an article written by Ian in the run-up to this conference, please click here.

Presentation: Infection control in challenging times

Providing an introduction to the day, and emphasising the key challenges in maintaining standards of infection prevention and control.

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Jean-Yves Maillard is a Reader in Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the Welsh School of Pharmacy (Cardiff University, Wales). He graduated (BSc Hons) in 1991 and obtained is PhD in 1994 from Cardiff University. He is the recipient of the FEMS Fellowship award (1998), the WH Pierce Memorial prize (2003) and British Pharmaceutical Conference Science Medal (2003). His field of expertise concerns biocides; their activity, mechanisms of action, the emergence of microbial resistance and cross-resistance to antimicrobials and the design of efficacy test protocols. He has published over 95 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, 11 book chapters (mainly on antimicrobial biocides) and 2 books and over 70 refereed conference communications. He is also working as a consultant for the industry and the European Commission on matters related to biocides and particularly microbial resistance. He is the Chief Editor of Letters in Applied Microbiology and a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

Presentation: Prevention of hospital acquired infection

Addressing the lack of understanding of factors affecting disinfection, and how to avoid disinfection failure.

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Neil Woodford is Deputy Director of the HPA's Antibiotic Resistance Monitoring and Reference Laboratory at the Centre for Infections, Colindale. He has worked on antibiotic resistance for over 25 years and has co-authored >200 publications and edited two books on the subject. His PhD is from Imperial College, London and he is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists. He served for 10 years as an Editor of the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, and is on the Editorial Board of Microbial Drug Resistance.

Presentation: A new superbug?

Giving expert advice on NDM-1 and its implications for the future of infection prevention and control.

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Chris Gush is the Scientific and Technical programme Manager for the Department of Health, HCAI Technology Innovation Programme. The HCAI Technology Innovation Programme, working with key partner organisations, is a national programme over nine NHS Trusts, aiming to speed up the development and adoption within the NHS of new and novel technologies and medical devices that have demonstrated the ability to reduce HCAIs.

Chris is also the Scientific Secretariat to the Rapid Review Panel (RRP) and the Scientific and Technical Manager to the Inspector of Microbiology and Infection Control. The RRP provides a prompt assessment of new and novel equipment, materials, and other products or protocols that may be of value to the NHS in improving hospital infection control and reducing HCAI. The Steering Group on HCAI provides advice on the developments required in the field of HCAI to the Department of Health.

Chris is responsible for the HCAI Technology "Product Surgeries" within the Department and advises the Technology Programme on new products and scientific developments, he has published several papers on new technology development within healthcare.


Presentation: The continued need for technological innovation for infection prevention and control

Talking about the latest technologies, and why innovation is so important in preventing and controlling infections.

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Andy Bates is Assistant Director of Infection Prevention and Control for West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust. A state registered paramedic, he has been with the Ambulance Service for 19 years. Since 2003 he has concentrated on infection control within the Ambulance Service.

Andy holds qualifications in Infection Control at Master's level via Coventry and Open Universities. He is a full member of the Infection Prevention Society. Achievements include: ALPHA NHS course in Clinical Audit (Cambridge), Mentor Teacher Trained (Trust and University level) 216 PM achieved, (Coventry University).

Andy has been privileged to lead on many issues, both local and national:

• National Guidance for Pandemic Influenza Working Group, with a direct invitation from Professor Christine Beasley
• Ambulance Design Workshop Group
• National Ambulance Service Infection Control Group (founder member)
• Ambulance Service Infection Control Working Group, NHS Cleanliness Division
• HTM Clinical Waste Regulation Group (National)
• Worked with ASA to promote Infection Control Policy (National Standard 2004)
• Policy and Procedures for 'Air Ambulances'
• DH Rapid Review Panel member 2009


Presentation: Infection control procedures at the West Midlands Ambulance Service

Sharing the processes, techniques and technologies that have been of benefit to the trust.

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Juliet Magee is the Lead Nurse for Infection Control and Tissue Viability at Bedford Hospital NHS Trust. She has been a nurse in acute settings in the UK for over 20 years and specialised in infection control for the last 10. She is keen to use innovative ways of developing nursing and healthcare leadership. Juliet has a passionate interest in the transferability of both healthcare skills and micro-organisms. She looks for opportunities to use her other interests, such as art and music, in her work and only wishes there was a way of incorporating snorkelling in the Indian Ocean into the NHS.

Presentation: Reducing infection in an acute hospital setting

Discussing successes at Bedford Hospital.

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Jane Summers took on a one year special project to reduce the number of MRSA and CDI infections in care homes in East Berkshire. She has been a registered nurse for nearly 30 years, working in a variety of settings from theatres, telephone triage to first aid on film sets. Recently Jane returned to a primary care setting to work in Infection Control, an area she has always been interested in since her days in theatre. She enjoys the challenge of working in an area where there is still much work to be done.

Presentation: Improving infection control and prevention in care homes

Talking about Berkshire East's 'Cleaner Safer Care Homes' scheme.

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