Nosocomial infections are costly and airborne transmission is increasingly recognised as important for spread. Air Cleaning Units (ACUs) may reduce transmission but little research has focused on their effectiveness on open wards.

Although misinformation has always existed, the scope and speed at which fake news can reach even the most remote corners of the globe is a modern phenomenon. In the field of infection prevention and control (IPC), we like to believe that our dedication to the field and the process of conducting science protects us from the ravages of ‘bad buzz’ and fake news. This misconception leads medical professionals to underestimate the negative effects of misinformation on public health. This paper focuses on the nexus of what is happening between the field of IPC and the public.

High consequence infectious diseases (HCID) include contact-transmissible viral haemorrhagic fevers and airborne-transmissible infections such as Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome. Assessing suspected HCID cases requires specialised infection control measures including patient isolation, personal protective equipment (PPE), and decontamination. There is need for an accessible course for NHS staff to improve confidence and competence in using HCID PPE outside specialist HCID centres.