Infection prevention and control
Our at-a-glance guidance relating to infection prevention and control (IPC) for members, including hand hygiene, PPE, and IPC manuals for the four nations
This page provides up-to-date information on the following key topics:
- Hand hygiene
- Respiratory and cough hygiene
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Infection prevention and control (IPC) manuals
Hand hygiene
Hand hygiene is one of the mainstays of infection control and prevents or reduces the spread of many infections. You should wash your hands before each patient episode, after contact with a patient, exposure to bodily fluids including tears and before you put on and after you remove gloves. If handwashing facilities are not readily available and your hands are not visibly soiled you may use an appropriate alcohol-based hand rub, but hand washing is preferable if available.
Guidance on how to wash your hands can be found at: www.nhs.uk/live-well/best-way-to-wash-your-hands
Respiratory and cough hygiene
You should ensure that you cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue when sneezing, coughing, wiping, or blowing your nose. In instances when a tissue is unavailable, you should use the crook of the arm in the elbow region.
All tissues should be disposed of in a waste bin, and you should wash your hands with soapy water after coughing, sneezing or contact with respiratory secretions.
If hand washing is not available, you should use hand wipes followed by an alcohol-based hand rub. You should then wash your hands at the next available opportunity.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
It is reasonable to ask a patient with respiratory symptoms to wear a facemask during examination if this can be tolerated. The request to wear a facemask should not compromise patient care.
You should also wear a facemask if you think there is a risk of respiratory infection. The type of mask worn should be determined by the form of disease transmission; for airborne diseases an FFP3 mask should be worn. For diseases spread by droplets a fluid- resistant type 2R mask can be worn.
The form of transmission for many diseases is the subject of some debate and not as clearly separated as was considered the case pre the COVID-19 pandemic. The menu below covers many common diseases that may be encountered in optometric practice:
Pathogen
Adenovirus
Disease: Respiratory tract infection / Conjunctivitis or gastroenteritis
Transmission-based precautions: Droplet / Contact
Mask type: FRSM / None
Notifiable by a registered medical practitioner under the Public Health Act 1984 and Health Protection Regulations 2010: No
Coronavirus including SARS-CoV-2
Disease: Respiratory symptoms including asymptomatic presentations. COVID-19
Transmission-based precautions: Droplet / Airborne
Mask type: FRSM for routine care or FFP3 for AGP
Notifiable by a registered medical practitioner under the Public Health Act 1984 and Health Protection Regulations 2010: No / Yes - SARS-CoV-2
Herpes zoster (Shingles) (Varicella-zoster)
Disease: Shingles (vesicle fluid) / Disseminated zoster (widespread body lesions)
Transmission-based precautions: Contact / Airborne
Mask type: None
Notifiable by a registered medical practitioner under the Public Health Act 1984 and Health Protection Regulations 2010: Notifiable organism but not disease
Influenza virus (Endemic strains)
Disease: Influenza
Transmission-based precautions: Droplet
Mask type: FRSM for routine care and FFP3 for AGP
Notifiable by a registered medical practitioner under the Public Health Act 1984 and Health Protection Regulations 2010: Yes
Measles virus
Disease: Measles (rubeola)
Transmission-based precautions: Droplet / Airborne
Mask type: FFP3
Notifiable by a registered medical practitioner under the Public Health Act 1984 and Health Protection Regulations 2010: Yes
Mumps virus
Disease: Mumps (infectious parotitis)
Transmission-based precautions: Droplet
Mask type: FRSM for routine care and FFP3 for AGP
Notifiable by a registered medical practitioner under the Public Health Act 1984 and Health Protection Regulations 2010: Yes
Norovirus
Disease: Winter vomiting disease
Transmission-based precautions: Contact
Mask type: FRSM if vomiting is present
Notifiable by a registered medical practitioner under the Public Health Act 1984 and Health Protection Regulations 2010: No
Parainfluenza
Disease: Respiratory tract infection
Transmission-based precautions: Droplet
Mask type: Respiratory tract infection
Notifiable by a registered medical practitioner under the Public Health Act 1984 and Health Protection Regulations 2010: No
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
Disease: Respiratory tract infection
Transmission-based precautions: Droplet
Mask type: FRSM for routine care and FFP3 for AGP
Notifiable by a registered medical practitioner under the Public Health Act 1984 and Health Protection Regulations 2010: No
Rubella virus
Disease: German measles
Transmission-based precautions: Droplet
Mask type: FRSM for routine care and FFP3 for AGP
Notifiable by a registered medical practitioner under the Public Health Act 1984 and Health Protection Regulations 2010: Yes
FRSM=Fluid resistant surgical mask
FFP3=Filter face piece 3
AGP=Aerosol generating procedure
IPC manuals
The following IPC manuals are available, providing guidance across the four nations in the UK.
Scotland: www.nipcm.scot.nhs.uk/chapter-2-transmission-based-precautions-tbps
Wales: www.phw.nhs.wales/services-and-teams/harp/infection-prevention-and-control/nipcm
Northern Ireland: www.niinfectioncontrolmanual.net