Meticulous infection control precautions are required to prevent healthcare-associated infection, with particular attention to hand hygiene and universal precautions. A detailed observation study undertaken in the early 1990s still has clear messages for infection control today. To prevent the spread of infection in clinical settings, nurses need adequate time and resources to comply with infection control protocols. Pressure of work and staff shortages still mitigate against safe practice today despite greater awareness of the importance of infection control.