I started working at the Hospital Infection Research Laboratory (HIRL), based in Birmingham, England, in 2006. I am a research scientist and statistician with degrees in Biomedical Science and Mathematics and Statistics, as well as a PhD in Molecular Biology.
When I first started working at HIRL, much of my time was spent testing disinfectants, automated endoscope reprocessors, instrument washer disinfectors and operating theatre ventilation. My work also involves environmental sampling around various hospital sites and the use of mathematical modelling and statistical process control techniques to monitor infection rates.
When HIRL was established in 1964 its remit was to assess the extent of infection in local hospitals and to ascertain the causes of infection and recommend preventive measures. Accordingly, my work has revolved around IPC in healthcare settings for nigh on twenty years. Personal research interests involve the cleaning and decontamination of the healthcare environment: how can we make our hospitals safe for patients, visitors and staff?
Edward Lowbury, the first director of HIRL, was the inaugural President of HIS; Graham Ayliffe, the second director of HIRL, was the inaugural Chair and third President of HIS, in addition to being the first Editor-in-Chief of the JHI. Adam Fraise, the director of HIRL when I started, was also a Chair of HIS.
Consequently, upon joining HIRL, I attended HIS conferences on a regular basis and published several papers in the JHI. In 2020, then Editor-in-Chief of the JHI Jim Gray encouraged me to join the editorial team on the journal; when Jim’s successor Nik Mahida decided to step down from the role of Editor-in-Chief, he suggested I apply for the position, a suggestion I was honoured to follow.
It is really important to me that the JHI encourages submissions on all aspects of IPC in the healthcare setting, such as cleaning and decontamination, antimicrobial stewardship, improvements in training and surveillance, hospital infrastructure, IPC in community healthcare, and much more besides. Impact factors have dropped recently across most IPC-related journals, probably due to diminution of the ‘COVID’ effect. Like p-values, impact factors have plenty of critics, but along with download metrics they remain the most common way of gauging both the popularity and quality of journals. By publishing a diverse range of interesting papers, the JHI will be well placed to stabilise and then increase both impact factor and downloads.
The JHI aims to be a truly international journal for IPC in the healthcare setting. As such, it is vital that we represent all geographic regions where healthcare takes place. Submissions from LMIC authors are particularly encouraged; if the work is not quite right for the JHI, it can often be transferred to our sister journal IPIP.
While AI poses a clear risk to journals in terms of poor quality and even fraudulent content, such as that produced by ‘paper mills’, it does help authors for whom English is not a first language to publish in international peer reviewed journals, which can only be a good thing.
Please consider publishing your work in the JHI!
As previously mentioned, we welcome submissions on a wide range of topics. Early career researchers, or those whose funding has been unexpectedly terminated, often through no fault of their own, may like to consider submitting a shorter format article, such as a letter to the Editor or practice points article.
The JHI is first and foremost a society journal. Our core remit is to publish articles that HIS members find informative and interesting; the best way to ensure this is for HIS members to submit their work to the JHI. Additionally, there is a sizeable discount for society members who publish open access in the JHI or IPIP.
Submit! If potential authors are uncertain whether the JHI is the right journal to publish their work, they are most welcome to contact the editorial office at journals@his.org.uk. Readers can also contact the editorial office with feedback on articles, requests or ideas for commissioned articles / special issues, and to volunteer for peer review.
I was most fortunate to have Tina Bradley as my boss when I joined HIRL. She taught me the importance of getting the basics right, and to not let ‘the perfect be the enemy of the good’.