Infection prevention and control: community

The Infection Prevention and Control (IPC): Community programme is a single elearning session designed to help staff keep people safe from infections when providing care in their homes or other out-of-hospital settings.

Intended audience

This session is for the wider NHS workforce, including:

• Community nurses and carers
• Health and social care staff visiting people at home
• Other professionals such as GPs, physiotherapists and paediatric staff providing care outside hospital

Key areas covered

The programme explains:

• Common infection risks in people’s homes
• How to assess risks and take the right precautions
• Standard infection control precautions (SICPs)
• When extra precautions may be needed (transmission-based precautions)
• How to prevent infections linked to devices and procedures
• What to do if you meet an organism or condition that may pose higher risk
• How to follow safe steps when collecting and handling specimens
• How antimicrobial resistance (AMR) develops and why using antibiotics wisely is important

Learning objectives

By the end of the session, learners will be able to:

• Use standard infection control precautions in community settings
• Reduce infection risks linked to equipment or clinical procedures
• Recognise organisms or symptoms that need extra care
• Know when and how to use transmission-based precautions
• Seek help when situations are complex or unfamiliar
• Follow current, evidence-based guidance and local IPC policies
• Apply safe methods when collecting or handling specimens
• Understand basic antimicrobial stewardship and how antibiotic misuse leads to resistance