How much do medical students know about infection control?

Changes in undergraduate medical training mean that students have direct patient contact from an early stage of their training. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of third-year medical students at the University of Birmingham Medical School, UK on infection control policy and procedures. A semi-structured questionnaire was distributed to medical students. Out of 322 students, 156 returned completed questionnaires (48%). Results showed that 58% of medical students did not know the correct indications for using alcoholic hand gel, 35% did not know the correct use of gloves, and 50% did not know the exclusion period after an episode of diarrhoea and vomiting. Sixty-four percent of medical students reported formal teaching on hand hygiene, 12% reported informal teaching, 19% reported both types of teaching and 5% reported no hand hygiene teaching at all. Forty-nine percent of medical students thought that there was insufficient emphasis on infection control in their course. These results raised concerns about medical students' knowledge about infection control. The University is currently reviewing the need for a more structured model for the teaching and assessment of infection control.