NIPCM Index
- About the Manual
- Responsibilities
- Chapter 1 - Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICPs)
- Chapter 2 - Transmission Based Precautions (TBPs)
- Chapter 3 - Healthcare Infection Incidents, Outbreaks and Data Exceedance
- Scottish COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Addendum for Acute Settings
- Scottish COVID-19 Care Home Infection Prevention and Control Addendum
- Scottish COVID-19 Community Health and Care Settings Infection Prevention and Control Addendum
- Addendum for Infection Prevention and Control within Neonatal Settings (NNU)
- A-Z Pathogens
- Glossary
- Appendices
- Resources
Welcome
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
For guidance to be used in Scotland for COVID-19 go to the Public Health Scotland COVID-19 web page.
For pathogen specific information go to the A-Z of pathogens.
The NHSScotland National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM) was first published on 13 January 2012, by the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO (2012)1), and updated on 17 May 2012 (CNO (2012)1 Update).
The NIPCM was endorsed on 3 April 2017 by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Chief Pharmaceutical Officer (CPO), Chief Dental Officer (CDO) and Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Care.
The NIPCM provides guidance to all those involved in care provision and should be adopted for infection prevention and control practices and procedures. The national manual is mandatory for NHSScotland, in all other care settings to support with health and social care integration the content of this manual is considered best practice. The Infection Prevention and Control Manual for Older People and Adult Care homes is mandatory within the care home setting.
The manual aims to:
- make it easy for care staff to apply effective infection prevention and control precautions
- reduce variation, promote standardisation and optimise infection prevention and control practices throughout Scotland
- improve the application of knowledge and skills in infection prevention and control
- help reduce the risk of Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI)
- help alignment of practice, education, monitoring, quality improvement and scrutiny
The NIPCM currently contains:
- Chapter 1: Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICPs),
- Chapter 2: Transmission Based Precautions (TBPs)
- Chapter 3: Healthcare Infection incidents, outbreaks and data exceedance
Work is underway to update and improve the NIPCM to further include;
- Winter Respiratory Infections in health and care settings – IPC addendum
- Chapter 4 Infection Prevention and Control in the Built Environment
- A dedicated page showcasing the team ‘behind the NICPM’ and their roles within ARHAI Scotland
- A dedicated page detailing the literature reviews and rapid reviews developed to inform the content of the NICPM including the methodologies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) used
- A dedicated page signposting surveillance and outbreak data and the local and national lessons learned from these
- A compendium of education resources and tools to support application of the NIPCM
Last updated: 4 October 2021
Latest News
- 20 Oct 2021Updated patient placement literature review and change to chapter text
- 16 Sep 2021Updated Literature Review - Cough etiquette/respiratory hygiene
- 18 Aug 2021Updated PPE - Headwear literature review and recommendations
- 09 Aug 2021Updated literature review development process and footwear literature reviews
- 24 May 2021Infection Prevention and Control Manual for older people and adult care homes (Care Home IPCM) now available