In 1979 a group of consultant medical microbiologists met to discuss the formation of a learned society that would foster the scientific interests of hospital doctors who were interested in nosocomial (or hospital-acquired) infections. The first scientific meeting on the topic of Practical problems in hospital infections took place in January 1980, and was attended by the first four Officers: Graham Ayliffe (Chairman), David C Shanson (General Secretary), Mark Casewell (Meetings Secretary) and Peter D Meers (Honorary Treasurer). In the same year, the first issue of the JHI was published in March, and included articles covering issues still relevant today, such as the role of isolation, surveillance and an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

At its inaugural AGM held Friday 9 January 1981, the Society reported a membership of 264. Since then, membership has grown to over 1000, and the Society has organised multiple conferences and educational training events each year. 

During 2019 and 2020, the Society's Honorary Archivist, Dr Robert C Spencer (Chair of HIS 2001-2007) continued the work of Dr Philip Sanderson (Honorary Archivist 1989-1992) and researched and recorded the past activities of HIS and the JHI. A book documenting the first 40 years entitled Healthcare Infection Society - forty years and counting was published on 12 February 2021. 

A second edition will be published in 2022.