The IPC Toolkit: Essential Papers for Infection Trainees and Junior Specialists

Infection Prevention in Practice (IPIP, the Gold Open Access journal of the Healthcare Infection Society) is planning a special article collection this Spring. We are aiming to support trainees and junior practitioners by publishing a collection of summary articles, covering key Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) themes taken from competencies within the Royal College of Pathologists and Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training board Medical Microbiology curriculum (2021). The article collection will be led by a small group of Guest Editors, themselves trainees in Medical Microbiology and/or Infectious Diseases. 

IPIP is now inviting authors to submit an expression of interest to cover one of the following topics:

• PPE, standard and transmission-based PPE, including HCID
• Isolation and cohorting of patients
• Disinfection and Sterilisation
• Support services (Food/Laundry)
• Clinical waste management
• Microbiological Surveillance and its role in IPC
• Role of pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (immunisation and other) in preventing HCAIs and managing outbreaks
• Role of the laboratory in IPC (i.e. screening, rapid identification of cases, typing)
• Summary of healthcare ventilation
• Water safety in the built environment
• Outbreak Investigation - which can cover several of the preceding areas

The intention of this collection is to support trainees, early-career Consultants and IPC Practitioners as they prepare for examinations and face IPC-related challenges in their roles.

EoI submissions should include: 

• A 250-word summary
• Details of the IPC topic to be covered
• An outline of the specific aspect of the topic to be addressed and relevant guidelines and literature to be included
• Authorship details, which must include at least one trainee

Submission deadline is 5pm on Friday, 6 February 2026

All submissions will be reviewed by the editorial team. Decisions will be based on the quality of proposals, topic suitability, the number of submissions received, and any duplication of topics. Selected authors will be invited to commission their proposed article, with fee waivers awarded to the most competitive proposals. Normal peer review policies will apply. 

We envisage the final articles should be of approx. 1000-1500 words with predefined format; Unstructured 250-word summary, maximum of three tables/diagrams and 20 references.; Proposed headings (to be finalised); Summary/Abstract, Background, Guidelines and Evidence, Recent Literature on the topic, Take home messages

If you have any queries regarding your submission, please contact:
IPIP Editor in Chief: Gemma Winzor ipipeditor@his.org.uk
HIS Editorial Manager: Martin McDonald journals@his.org.uk

Guest Editors: 

• Siobháin Kelly (Previous HIS Graham Ayliffe Fellow)
• Na'im Merchant (HIS Trainee Committee Chair)
• Ashleigh McMaster (HIS Trainee Committee Vice Chair)
• Nishchay Kakkar (BIA Trainee Representative)