Guidance

Infection prevention and control (IPC) in adult social care (ASC)

Guidance for all ASC settings, including care homes, supported living, day services and domiciliary care.

• From: UK Health Security Agency and Department of Health and Social Care
• Published: 28 October 2026

Documents

Background, context and responsibilities for infection prevention and control (IPC) in adult social care (ASC) settings 

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Why infection prevention and control matters in adult social care

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Standard infection control precautions in adult social care

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Transmission based precautions in adult social care

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Fundamentals of care which help prevent infections in adult social care settings

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Vaccinations for care and support workers and people accessing care and support in adult social care

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Managing outbreaks in adult social care settings

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Infections of concern in adult social care settings: A–Z

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Tuberculosis (TB) guidance for adult social care settings

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Managing suspected infectious diarrhoea and/or vomiting in adult social care

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Essential IPC considerations for clinical interventions and procedures in adult social care​ 

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Staff health and managing sickness related to infection in adult social care

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Additional information and resources for adult social care managers

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ASC IPC guidance: glossary

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ASC IPC guidance: index of abbreviations

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ASC IPC guidance: index of hyperlinks

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Details

Developed by UKHSA, and commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care, this resource updates and consolidates existing IPC guidance.

The resource covers everything from how to prevent infections during fundamentals of care, antimicrobial resistance, standard infection control precautions, transmission-based precautions, recognising and reporting outbreaks, staff health, considerations for clinical interventions, and   common infections in ASC settings. It applies across diverse adult social care settings, with practical adaptations for care delivered in someone’s own home.

We encourage you to share this resource with your networks and use it to support consistent IPC practice across your organisation.

*[ASC] adult social care