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Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines

Guidelines are divided into 4 sections:

Core Prevention Guidelines (includes SICPs)
National Infection Prevention and Control Manual
Cleaning of Near Patient Equipment
Decontamination Guidance
Development and Approval of IPC Policies Guidance
Hand Hygiene Guidance
Outbreak Incident Management Plan
Patient Placement
Terminal Clean of Ward/Isolation Room
TOY Cleaning
Twice Daily Clean of Isolation Rooms
Water Damage
Disease Specific Information
Chickenpox
Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI)
COVID-19
CPE (Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacteriaceae)
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)
Environmental Organisms in High-Risk Clinical Areas
Gastrointestinal Diseases
Group A Streptococcus (Strep. pyogenes)
Head Lice
Influenza
Loose Stools
NHSGGC Bowel Movement Record (Bristol Stool Chart)
Measles
Meningococcal Disease
Meticillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

What is MERS-CoV?

MERS-CoV is a viral respiratory disease. It is a strain of coronavirus first identified by the Netherlands in 2012. Symptoms include fever and cough that progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In some cases, a diarrheal illness has been the first symptom to appear. There is currently no vaccine available for MERS-CoV.

Since April 2014, there has been a marked increase in reported infections with MERS-CoV outside the UK. There continues to be a risk of imported cases to the UK, and health professionals should remain vigilant. Early identification and rapid implementation of appropriate infection control measures for suspected cases is crucial.

While the risk of MERS-CoV in individuals who meet the case definition for a possible case in the UK following travel to/from the Middle East is low, testing for MERS-CoV is warranted together with rapid implementation of appropriate infection control measures while awaiting results of testing.  

NHSGGC MERS-CoV SOP

MERS-CoV Primary Care Algorithm (interim)

NHSGGC MERS-CoV Aide Memoire: Out of Hours and Minor Injuries

NHSGGC MERS-CoV Hospital Pathways:

NHSGGC Reception/Triage posters:

Health Protection Scotland Guidance

Patient AssessmentAssessment and initial management of travellers presenting with febrile respiratory illness, returning from an area where infection with MERS-CoV could have been acquired in the 14 days before symptom onset.

Close Contacts: The risk to contacts of confirmed cases of MERS-CoV infection is low but contacts should be followed up in the 14 days following last exposure and any new febrile or respiratory illness investigated urgently for MERS CoV.

National Infection Control Guidance

(Information (HPS) can be found here) including information for healthcare workers.

A precautionary principle must be applied for novel or emerging respiratory pathogens of high consequence when the mode of transmission is incompletely determined.

Droplet, contact and airborne precautions (including the use of correctly fitted FFP3 respirators) should be applied for all patients admitted with a suspected or confirmed novel or emerging respiratory pathogen (e.g. MERS-CoV or Avian Influenza).

The link below, outlines the infection prevention and control advice for healthcare workers involved in receiving and caring for patients, who are suspected or confirmed cases of MERS-CoV.

Mpox
Multi-drug Resistant Organisms (MDRO)
Mumps
Norovirus
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Rubella
Scabies
Shingles
Tuberculosis
VRE
Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
Linked Policies / Associated Policies
Water Safety

This is where you find our information and resources concerning water safety.

The SOP below and risk assessment provide direction and guidance for ward based staff, to meet their responsibilities for the control of risks associated with water systems in NHS premises.

These documents should be read in conjunction with the Board Water Systems Safety Policies and written schemes.