This paper discusses a literature review which was undertaken prior to a research study about student
nurses' and midwives' experiences of learning infection control in clinical practice. Its aim is to identify the
role of education in the prevention and control of infection, with a specific focus on compliance with
infection control precautions and reduction in infection rates. It also identifies the methods used for teaching
infection control. The review concludes that there is no rigorous and convincing evidence that education
improves compliance with infection control precautions or reduces rates of infection, particularly in the
long-term. Areas for future research are identified.