Version history

Date Version Summary of change
4 July 2023 V2.6 Section 1.4 – need for hand hygiene following glove removal emphasised

Section 1.4 – additional recommendations added for the use of oversleeves

Appendix 11a – removal of footnote 3, addition of a new footnote (6) related to use of FRSM/RPE for Pneumocystis jirovecii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and renumbering of remaining footnotes.

24 April 2023 V2.5 Link to newly published A-Z of pathogens resource added

Link to newly published IPC BAF added

Roles and responsibilities for staff providing care updated to include good uniform practice (bare below the elbow)

Section 1.2 – updated to state nail brushes should not be used

Section 1.9 – updated to reflect changes to HTM 07-01

Chapter 2, introduction – footnote 3 added to highlight return to pre-pandemic social distancing

Section 2.3 – terminal cleaning of outpatient/theatre recovery amended

Section 2.4 – additional recommendations on use of FRSM as source control

Appendix 3 – updated to align with section 1.2

Appendix 11a – recommendations on optimal patient placement and RPE use for TB updated

9 January 2023 V2.4 Hyperlinks to external documents updated.

Section 1.2 – additional guidance on the use of oversleeves added.

Section 1.4 – amended wording of recommendations for use of sterile gloves and gowns.

Section 1.8 – additional information on use of locally approved products for the management of blood and body fluid spills.

Additional recommendations added to section 2.1 on cohorting of infectious patients in hospital settings.

Appendix 7 updated to incorporate process for high risk body fluids (as in box 1 of appendix 9).

EN standards for products used in the management of blood and body fluids spills added to the NIPCM glossary.

Appendix 11b updated to reflect the change to HCID status of mpox and change of name (previously monkeypox).

7 September 2022 V2.3 Addition of appendices 5a and 5b and removal of previous appendix 5 (glove selection).

Minor change to appendix 11a to clarify precautions for varicella zoster (shingles).

30 August 2022 V2.2 Minor amendments made throughout as suggested by HSE for clarity and to reflect the language used by HSE.
21 July 2022 V2.1 Additional text added to appendix 11b to reflect changes in HCID status of MPX (2022 outbreak strain) and sign-post to UKHSA guidance.
24 May 2022 V2.0 Correction to section 1.9 –  safe management of waste.
14 April 2022 V1.0 First publication.