Effective public health strategies depend on surveillance, preventative measures, outbreak investigation and the institution of control measures including appropriate treatment. This handbook, written specifically for community nurses, describes the communicable diseases likely to be encountered by the community nurse and offers practical guidance on their assessment and treatment. The book looks at staff hygiene and a clean environment and examines the causes and management of blood–borne illnesses together with recommendations for the treatment of head lice, scabies and threadworms. The latter part of the book discusses the prevention of influenza and the rising incidence of tuberculosis and the care of patients with these conditions and considers other common infections such as MRSA, impetigo, shingles and meningitis.