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Infection control guidance

  • Last modified date:
    8 January 2010

This is generic guidance intended to assist in preparing for a pandemic whose nature and severity is unknown. Although much of the content remains relevant in the current swine flu pandemic, some aspects, particularly those relating to at risk groups and those intended to respond to higher levels of sickness and mortality may not be applicable to the current swine flu situation.  Therefore, the guidance should be read in conjunction with the latest swine flu UK planning assumptions and other specific swine flu guidance.

Specific swine flu infection control guidance for health and social care professionals and some non-NHS sectors will be coming shortly

Pandemic (H1N1) influenza:  a summary of guidance for infection control in healthcare settings

Published:  8 January 2010

This document is an updated version of Pandemic flu: A summary of guidance for infection control in health care settings issued in September 2007. It is specific to the current pandemic influenza virus, pandemic (H1N1), and thus represents current guidance.

Infection control training material

Published: 15 April 2007

A range of infection control training materials has been produced, including a summary of the guidance for infection control in healthcare settings during an influenza pandemic, posters on the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and a short training video (added 17 October 2007).

Infection control guidance for non-NHS sectors

Infection control guidance in the event of a flu pandemic is now available for some non-NHS sectors.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) and the Department of Health (DH) have worked with various organisations to develop guidance for the following: funeral directors, the hospitality industry, fire and rescue services, cleaning and refuse staff and the police.

Each of the guidance has standard text, which explains what pandemic flu is, how it is spread and how you can protect yourself and others from it. It then addresses issues relevant to the particular sector. For example, the guidance for the hospitality industry includes sections for hotel managers on decontaminating hotel rooms and the advice to give to guests.

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