EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Healthcare associated infections (HAIs) are a major global problem and the pathogens that cause them are invisible within everyday life. Science has helped to make these causative pathogens visible through the microscope, and there are a variety of populist images of ‘bugs’, but what other ways of seeing (and thinking) could be helpful for better understanding pathogens’ interactions with contexts, processes and people? And how then could visualisation-based approaches used in the arts and humanities, along with those in other disciplines, contribute to better prevention and control of these HAIs?

These questions gave impetus to the development of the AHRC funded HAIVAIRN project (July 2016-January 2018) and this report summarises its collaborative work. Following description of objectives and networking processes, the report explores and maps areas of perceived need and opportunity for research in this field. To exemplify some of these areas and intersections, brief insights into relevant ongoing and new research studies are then shared. Final reflections focus on the nature and wide scope of enquiry, and the need for more in-depth work within and across key areas. The potential value of cross-disciplinary research focusing on use of visualisation to help prevent HAIs and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is highlighted for practice developers, researchers, educators and policy makers. Within this context the report seeks to stimulate further creative thinking and associated developments.

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