Healthcare associated infection (HCAI) compendium of guidance and resources

This compendium collates current guidance, guidelines, policy and legislation, and other resources related to infection prevention and control (IPC) into a single source. This compendium will be routinely updated (at least quarterly) to incorporate new or updated resources and remove resources that have been withdrawn.

Disclaimer: No responsibility will be taken for any omissions to or the content of the compendium. Any questions regarding any of the guidance documents should be directed to the appropriate organisation.

Version 16, 9 April 2025

Updates to the previous version are highlighted in yellow

1. Antimicrobial resistance and prescribing

24 January 2019

16 May 2022

3 April 2017

  • Antimicrobial Resistance: resource handbook – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk): Identifies current national policy, guidance and supporting materials in relation to the infection prevention and control of healthcare associated infections (HCAI) and antimicrobial stewardship in order to aid in the reduction of antimicrobial resistance | Identifies current national policy, guidance and supporting materials in relation to the infection prevention and control of healthcare associated infections (HCAI) and antimicrobial stewardship in order to aid in the reduction of antimicrobial resistance.

May 2021 (withdrawn)

18 May 2022

22 May 2016

18 December 2014

  • Overview | Neonatal infection | Quality standards | NICE: This quality standard covers preventing infection in newborn babies, treating pregnant women whose babies are at risk of infection, and treating newborn babies with suspected or confirmed infection. It includes when to give antibiotics to prevent and treat neonatal infection. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement | National Institute for Heath and Care Excellence.

23 January 2024

  • Overview | Neonatal infection | Quality standards | NICE: This quality standard covers preventing infection in newborn babies, treating pregnant women whose babies are at risk of infection, and treating newborn babies with suspected or confirmed infection. It includes when to give antibiotics to prevent and treat neonatal infection. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement – National Institute for Heath and Care Excellence

2020

  • Antimicrobial prescribing in dentistry – College of General Dentistry: The aim of this guidance is to help healthcare prescribers understand the role of antimicrobial agents in management of oral and dental infections. The guidance also aims to help rationalise and improve standards of antimicrobial prescribing within dentistry and to improve patient care | Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) and Faculty of Dental Surgery.

March 2018

November 2016

May 2023

  • AMR local indicators: AMR local indicators are publicly available data intended to raise awareness of antibiotic prescribing, AMR, HCAI, IPC and AMS; and to facilitate the development of local action plans | UK Healthy Security Agency – Office for Health Improvement and Disparities.

2. General IPC

17 April 2014

  • Overview | Infection prevention and control | Quality standards | NICE: This quality standard covers preventing and controlling infection in adults, young people and children receiving healthcare in primary, community and secondary care settings. It includes preventing healthcare-associated infections that develop because of treatment or from being in a healthcare setting. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement. National Institute for Heath and Care Excellence.

1 Nov 2016

18 Nov 2019

  • Minimum requirements for infection prevention and control programmes: The purpose of this document is to present and promote the minimum requirements for IPC programmes at the national and health care facility level, identified by expert consensus according to available evidence and in the context of the WHO core components. World Health Organization.

28 Apr 2022

13 Dec 2022

25 May 2022

  • Global Strategy on Infection Prevention and Control: Draft resolution proposed by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Colombia, Jordan, Kenya, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, United States of America and Vanuatu. World Health Organization.

20 May 2022

20 Jun 2022

13 Dec 2022

13 June 2022

  • National Infection Prevention and Control Manual: Addendum for Infection Prevention and Control within Neonatal Settings (NNU): This addendum provides additional guidance to chapters 1,2 and 3 of the NIPCM (Scotland) specific to NNUs including, placement of neonates/assessment of infection risk, management of healthcare infection incidents, outbreaks and data exceedances, and personal care of neonates. National Services Scotland.

3. Aseptic technique

4 June 2021

  • Understanding Aseptic Technique | Royal College of Nursing: Aseptic technique is recognised as an essential component of all infection prevention programmes but terminology used to define it varies. This publication is an RCN investigation into clinical views to guide the practice of aseptic technique. BD have funded this report. BD has had no influence on, or involvement in its content. Royal College of Nursing.

1 January 2014

4. Preventing infections associated with vascular access devices

1 January 2014

5. Preventing urinary tract infections

23 November 2018

12 December 2024

31 October 2018

27 July 2022

27 July 2022

11 June 2015

  • Overview | Urinary tract infections in adults | Quality standards | NICE: This quality standard covers diagnosing and managing urinary tract infection in adults (aged 16 and over), including adults using urinary catheters. It includes assessment, antibiotic treatment and referral for specialist assessment. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement. National Institute for Heath and Care Excellence.

18 September 2013

19 October 2020

1 January 2014

Not date

  • NHS England » Urinary catheter tools: The urinary catheter tools have been developed collaboratively with national experts to support providers in delivering consistent evidence based catheter care. The use of the tools needs to be supported by strong leadership and education. NHS England.

No date

  • DRIPP Urinary Catheter Resources: A urinary catheter quick reference guide and summary of evidence. Improving Device Related Infection Prevention Practice (DRIPP).

6. Surgical site infection

19 August 2020 

  • Overview | Surgical site infections: prevention and treatment | Guidance | NICE: This guideline covers preventing and treating surgical site infections in adults, young people and children who are having a surgical procedure involving a cut through the skin. It focuses on methods used before, during and after surgery to minimise the risk of infection. National Institute for Heath and Care Excellence.

3 January 2018

7. Respiratory infections (including pneumonia)

16 September 2019

16 September 2019

7 July 2022

  • Overview | Pneumonia in adults: diagnosis and management | Guidance | NICE: This guideline was developed before the COVID-19 pandemic. It covers diagnosing and managing pneumonia in adults who do not have COVID-19. It aims to improve accurate assessment and diagnosis of pneumonia to help guide antibiotic prescribing and ensure that people receive the right treatment. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

28 September 2022

  • National guidance for the management of children in hospital with viral respiratory tract infections (2022): These recommendations on the management of children in hospital with viral respiratory tract infections in hospital settings are for clinicians to support planning in partnership with local infection prevention control teams. While some recommendations describe organisational structures in England, services in the devolved nations are encouraged to adopt them to fit local models. This guidance is supported by the Infection Prevention Society. Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

11 January 2023

  • XBB.1.5 Rapid risk assessment: Rapid risk assessment by the WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) of the public health risk associated with this variant. World Health Organization.

28 September 2022

8. Health technical memoranda/Health building notes

26 January 2024

  • NHS England » (HTM 00) Building engineering in the health sector: HTM 00 provides guidance on the design, installation and operation of a healthcare facility from an engineering and environmental perspective. HTM 00 is not intended to cover every possible scenario, for example where a patient is receiving treatment in their own home. This 2014 edition supersedes all previous versions of HTM 00. Department for Health and Social Care.

26 January 2024

  • NHS England » (HTM 03-01) Specialised ventilation for healthcare buildings: These documents give comprehensive advice and guidance on the legal requirements, design implications, maintenance and operation of specialised ventilation in healthcare premises providing acute care. In other types of healthcare a risk assessment of the nature of the treatment being delivered, condition of the patients and intensity of use needs to be undertaken by those responsible for the facility in order to determine the extent to which this guidance will be applicable. Health Technical Memorandum 03-01 (2021) supersedes all previous versions of Health Technical Memorandum 03-01 – ‘Specialised ventilation in healthcare premises’ (2007). It also supersedes HTM 2025 (1994) and DV4 (1983). Department for Health and Social Care.

26 January 2024

  • NHS England » (HTM 04-01) Safe water in healthcare premises: This Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) gives guidance on the legal requirements, design applications, maintenance and operation of hot and cold water supply, storage and distribution systems in all types of healthcare premises. The guidance is for: healthcare management water safety groups design engineers estate managers operations managers contractors supply chain businesses It also provides advice and guidance on the control and management of the risk posed by Legionella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other water borne pathogens within a healthcare setting. Department for Health and Social Care.

26 January 2024

  • NHS England » (HTM 07-01) Management and disposal of healthcare waste: HTM 07-01 details the environmental benefits of the safe management and disposal of healthcare waste, It also presents opportunities for cost savings, safer working practices and reducing carbon emissions related to the management of waste. Department of Health and Social Care.

26 January 2024

26 January 2024

26 January 2024

26 January 2024

  • NHS England » (HTM 01-06) Management and decontamination of flexible endoscopes: Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 01-06 provides information on the management and decontamination of flexible endoscopes. The guidance consists of 5 parts: policy and management; design and installation; operational management; validation and verification (including storage/drying cabinets); testing methods. Department for Health and Social Care.

26 January 2024

  • NHS England » (HBN 00-09) Infection control in the built environment: This building note details each stage of a project, from initial concept through to post-project evaluation, in relation to infection control. A building’s design can help infection prevention and control by providing an environment that is easy to clean and maintain. It is important that these features are designed into a project from the beginning. Department for Health and Social Care.

30 January 2024

  • NHS England » (HBN 00-09) Infection control in the built environment: This building note details each stage of a project, from initial concept through to post-project evaluation, in relation to infection control. A building’s design can help infection prevention and control by providing an environment that is easy to clean and maintain. It is important that these features are designed into a project from the beginning. Department for Health and Social Care.

31 January 2024

26 January 2024

  • NHS England » (HTM 07-01) Management and disposal of healthcare waste: HTM 07-01 details the environmental benefits of the safe management and disposal of healthcare waste, It also presents opportunities for cost savings, safer working practices and reducing carbon emissions related to the management of waste. Department of Health and Social Care.

26 January 2024

  • NHS England » (HTM 00) Building engineering in the health sector: HTM 00 provides guidance on the design, installation and operation of a healthcare facility from an engineering and environmental perspective. HTM 00 is not intended to cover every possible scenario, for example where a patient is receiving treatment in their own home. This 2014 edition supersedes all previous versions of HTM 00. Department for Health and Social Care.

26 January 2024

  • NHS England » (HTM 03-01) Specialised ventilation for healthcare buildings: These documents give comprehensive advice and guidance on the legal requirements, design implications, maintenance and operation of specialised ventilation in healthcare premises providing acute care. In other types of healthcare a risk assessment of the nature of the treatment being delivered, condition of the patients and intensity of use needs to be undertaken by those responsible for the facility in order to determine the extent to which this guidance will be applicable. Health Technical Memorandum 03-01 (2021) supersedes all previous versions of Health Technical Memorandum 03-01 – ‘Specialised ventilation in healthcare premises’ (2007). It also supersedes HTM 2025 (1994) and DV4 (1983). Department for Health and Social Care.

26 January 2024

  • NHS England » (HTM 04-01) Safe water in healthcare premises: This Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) gives guidance on the legal requirements, design applications, maintenance and operation of hot and cold water supply, storage and distribution systems in all types of healthcare premises. The guidance is for: healthcare management; water safety groups; design engineers; estate managers; operations managers; contractors; supply chain businesses. It also provides advice and guidance on the control and management of the risk posed by Legionella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other water borne pathogens within a healthcare setting. Department for Health and Social Care.

26 January 2024

  • NHS England » (HTM 07-01) Management and disposal of healthcare waste: HTM 07-01 details the environmental benefits of the safe management and disposal of healthcare waste, It also presents opportunities for cost savings, safer working practices and reducing carbon emissions related to the management of waste. Department of Health and Social Care.

26 January 2024

26 January 2024

26 January 2024

26 January 2024

  • NHS England » (HTM 01-06) Management and decontamination of flexible endoscopes: Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 01-06 provides information on the management and decontamination of flexible endoscopes. The guidance consists of 5 parts: policy and management; design and installation; operational management; validation and verification (including storage/drying cabinets); testing methods. Department for Health and Social Care.

30 January 2024

  • NHS England » (HBN 00-09) Infection control in the built environment: This building note details each stage of a project, from initial concept through to post-project evaluation, in relation to infection control. A building’s design can help infection prevention and control by providing an environment that is easy to clean and maintain. It is important that these features are designed into a project from the beginning. Department of Health and Social Care.

31 January 2024

26 January 2024

  • NHS England » (HTM 07-01) Management and disposal of healthcare waste: HTM 07-01 details the environmental benefits of the safe management and disposal of healthcare waste, It also presents opportunities for cost savings, safer working practices and reducing carbon emissions related to the management of waste. Department of Health and Social Care.

13 November 2023

  • Health Building Note 16-01: Facilities for mortuaries, including body stores and post-mortem services: This publication has been produced for use by NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts. However, it has been designed to be useful for other organisations involved in the operation, planning or use of mortuary and post-mortem facilities in England, for either joint/shared service or individual organisation use. This publication replaces HBN 20 – ‘Facilities for mortuary and post-mortem room services’ (2005). NHS England.

9. Hand hygiene

15 January 2012

  • WHO guidelines on hand hygiene in health care: The WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care provide health-care workers (HCWs), hospital administrators and health authorities with a thorough review of evidence on hand hygiene in health care and specific recommendations to improve practices and reduce transmission of pathogenic microorganisms to patients and HCWs. The present Guidelines are intended to be implemented in any situation in which health care is delivered either to a patient or to a specific group in a population. Therefore, this concept applies to all settings where health care is permanently or occasionally performed, such as home care by birth attendants. World Health Organization.

5 May 2012

9 February 2009

No date

  • Skin at work. Work-related skin disease (eg dermatitis) can affect people in a wide range of occupations. This site shows how the APC approach (avoid, protect, check) can reduce the chances of suffering painful and sometimes debilitating skin conditions. World Health Organization.

10. Personal protective equipment

No date

No date

  • Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) (hse.gov.uk). This website provides information and tools to help employers select and manage the use of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) in the workplace. The information is applicable to disposable and reusable masks, breathing apparatus and powered respirators. Health and Safety Executive.

2013

  • Respiratory protective equipment at work: A practical guide (hse.gov.uk). This fourth edition provides essential guidance on why respiratory protective equipment (RPE) should be used, what the law says and how to select RPE that is adequate and suitable. It also includes a useful dos and don’ts list for the management and supervision of RPE use. The guidance is aimed principally at employers and the self-employed who wear, or are responsible for workers who wear, RPE. It will also be useful for health and safety specialists, manufacturers and suppliers of RPE. It has been prepared in consultation with industry and updates the 2005 edition. Health and Safety Executive.

No date

11. Safe management of patient care equipment and the care environment

1 July 2023

28 January 2021

1 December 2013

1 August 2013

22 January 2020

17 May 2023

5 September 2016

5 July 2016

25 February 2021

11 April 2014

2016

2022

1 June 2022

  • Automated room decontamination: report of a Healthcare Infection Society Working Party – Journal of Hospital Infection. Aims to provide useful, generic information that will help healthcare professionals make a well-informed choice if they are intending to buy or rent/lease the automated technology. The aim is to provide guidance on the types of device available, the various active chemicals (where relevant), the biocidal mechanism underpinning the technology, suggested information to be sought from the supplier before purchase, and general precautions recommended for the safe and effective use of the equipment. Healthcare Infection Society.

1 January 2019

June 2020

18 November 2022

27 October 2022

  • Infection prevention and control: incubators on neonatal units. This document sets out to highlight and reinforce general infection prevention and control (IPC) principles to be used in combination with local guidance and manufacturer’s instructions when decontaminating and handling incubators in neonatal units during and after patient use. UK Health Security Agency.

24 January 2022

30 January 2025

6 February 2025

  • National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2025The National standards of healthcare cleanliness 2025 encompass all cleaning tasks throughout the NHS regardless of which department is responsible for it. They are based around being easy to use; freedom within a framework; fit for the future; efficacy of the cleaning process; cleanliness which provides assurance; and transparency of results. NHS England.

2 October 2023

2 October 2023

27 October 2022

 

12. IPC during care of the deceased

July 2018

13. Safe management of linen

2 April 2020

  • NHS England » Uniforms and workwear: guidance for NHS employers: This publication supports the specific requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice relating to uniform and workwear policies, and the need to ensure that they support effective hand hygiene. Advise on the washing of uniforms is included. NHS England.

14. Occupational safety including the prevention of sharps injuries

11 December 2014

No date

No date

  • Blood-borne viruses (BBV) – Blood borne viruses (BBV): This website gives employees and employers detailed guidance on; how to comply with the law; how to assess and ways to reduce the risks of workplace exposure to blood-borne viruses; how to manage incidences of exposure. Health and Safety Executive.

30 March 2016

11 September 2013

15 January 2025

15. High consequence infectious diseases

5 July 2022

November 2015

  • Viral haemorrhagic fever: ACDP algorithm and guidance on management of patients – GOV.UK: This document provides guidance on the risk assessment and management of patients in the United Kingdom in whom infection with a viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) should be considered or is confirmed. This guidance aims to eliminate or minimise the risk of transmission to healthcare workers and others coming into contact with an infected patient or their samples. Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP).

16. Management of outbreaks

21 February 2025

6 June 2008

  • Pandemic Flu – Workplace Guidance: This guidance is intended to inform planning for a pandemic form of influenza that causes severe symptoms in a large proportion of those infected. Health and Safety Executive.

No date

17. Healthcare associated infection surveillance and reporting

4 January 2021

1 August 2017

20 September 2022

4 October 2017

12 July 2018

12 July 2018

22 January 2020

24 August 2021

  • Surgical site infection (SSI): guidance, data and analysis: UK Health Security Agency helps hospitals record incidents of surgical site infection (SSI), to help improve surgical practice and prevent further infections. UK Health Security Agency.

1 August 2016

18. Risk assessment and the hierarchy of controls

08.04.202522 January 2024

22 January 2024

September 2022

  • Dental framework – Supporting guidance for primary and community care dental settings: This dental framework has been designed to support practices in identifying hazards and risks with guidance on measures that should be maintained as we move to new, improved, and safer ways of working. In balancing risks appropriately, the framework provides a consistent handrail applicable to the generic dental practice environment. NHS England.

2013

8 April 2025

  • National infection prevention and control board assurance framework: The Board Assurance Framework (BAF) provides assurance to trust boards, that organisational compliance has been systematically reviewed by assessing the measures taken in line with the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM) and the Code of Practice (COP). NHS England.

October 2024 

  • Isolation prioritisation tool: The isolation prioritisation tool is intended to provide a systematic framework that can be used by healthcare staff in organisations to assist in the prioritisation of isolation rooms for infection prevention and control. NHS England.

19. IPC in the ambulance service

No date

April 2022

April 2022

20. IPC in prisons, education, childcare and social care settings

5 February 2025

12 June 2019

1 March 2024

31 May 2022:

18 February 2013

March 2019

  • React to infection: Managing influenza and norovirus: React to Infection is divided into two sets of resources which explain how to identify, prevent and manage Influenza and Norovirus in care homes. Health Protection Scotland on behalf of NHS Improvement. Designed and produced by Crocodile house.

23 June 2022

  • Infection prevention and control in care homes: This site contains questions and prompts used by CQC inspectors to look at how well staff and people living in care homes are protected by infection prevention and control (IPC). Care Quality Commission

21. Sustainability

4 July 2022

  • Delivering a ‘Net Zero’ National Health Service: This report provides a detailed account of the NHS’ modelling and analytics underpinning the latest NHS carbon footprint, trajectories to net zero and the interventions required to achieve that ambition. It lays out the direction, scale and pace of change. It describes an iterative and adaptive approach, which will periodically review progress and aims to increase the level of ambition over time. NHS England.

No date

  • Green Surgery – Reducing the environmental impact of surgical care: The Green Surgery report provides initiatives and recommendations to reduce the adverse impact of surgical care on the environment, based upon evidence synthesis and case studies. It also considers barriers and facilitators to implementation. Key contributors of emissions in the operating theatre include products (in particular single-use items), energy consumption, and anaesthetic gases (many of which are powerful greenhouse gases). UK Health Alliance on Climate Change.

Publication reference: PR00206