title: Infection control: maintaining the personal hygiene of patients and staff.
abstract: This article concentrates on the importance of personal hygiene for staff and patients in reducing the risk of healthcare-associated infections for patients. It provides an historical context to the associated risks of "basic nursing care" and how these can be counteracted. With the introduction of modern matrons and directors of infection control, emphasis is again focused on these practices.
authors.affiliation: Independent Infection Control Nurse Adviser, Chapeltown, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Parker
mesh_terms: D001513:Beds; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D009740:Nursing Staff