Healthcare-associated infections: prevention and control in primary and community care

Preventing infections

People often have medical treatment or other healthcare outside of hospital. This might be in their own home, in a residential or nursing home, or in places such as GP surgeries or health centres. Sometimes a patient will be mainly responsible for their own care, perhaps with the help of a family member or other carer. Healthcare workers may also be involved in a patient's care.

Many healthcare activities are associated with a risk of infection. It is essential that everyone involved makes sure that they keep this risk of infection as low as possible. This information explains the advice given to healthcare workers in the NHS about how to prevent and control the spread of infections. This information is also relevant for anyone else involved in giving healthcare, such as family members, other carers and patients themselves. Specific information is included about caring for people who have a higher risk of infection because they have a urinary catheter or a vascular access device, or require enteral feeding.