This quality improvement guide was produced by NICE, in partnership with the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

Its aim is twofold:

to reduce the risk of harm from healthcare-associated infections for patients, staff and visitors; and to reduce the costs associated with preventable infection. The guide aims to improve the quality of care and practice over and above current standards as set out in the Department of Health’s The Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of practice for health and adult social care on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance.