Abstract
Principles of infection prevention are notoriously difficult for healthcare workers to grasp and to apply consistently in practice. Moreover, the interpretation of these principles within policies and practice guidelines is not always clear or presented in ways to enable ready application to practice. Often a guideline statement can generate more questions than it resolves. Take, for example, infection prevention guidelines on contact isolation precautions. This topic has generated huge controversy over the years as the underpinning evidence base is limited and ambiguous.