To support the needs of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, this rapid evidence review of qualitative research studies sought to identify barriers and facilitators to healthcare workers adherence to infection prevention and control guidelines for respiratory infectious diseases. The authors included 20 studies in their analysis; these studies explored the views and experiences of nurses, doctors and other healthcare workers working in hospitals, primary care, and community care settings dealing with infectious diseases such as SARS, H1N1, MERS, TB, or seasonal influenza. Identified barriers included local guidelines that were lengthy, ambiguous or not reflective of national or international continuously changing guidelines, lack of support from management to adhere to guidelines, and lack of high-quality personal protective equipment (PPE). Facilitators to guideline adherence included clear communication and training about the infection and use of PPE, sufficient space to isolate patients, workplace safety culture, and perceived value of adhering to infection prevention and control guidelines.