For NHS pharmacies, standard infection control precautions (SICPs) must be followed at all times, by all staff, in all NHS settings (or places where NHS services are delivered). 

This is true across all healthcare settings (hospitals, GP surgeries, etc.) and places where NHS care takes place.

Anyone working within a pharmacy setting should be well versed in infection control guidance. Pharmacists must follow the same standard infection control precautions (SICPs) as all NHS healthcare staff.

NHS guidance on infection control in pharmacies and other settings is comprehensive. SICPs involves 10 distinctive elements that are outlined in Chapter 1 of the SICPs guide.

1. Patient placement/assessment of infection risk

Prompt assessment of patients' risk of infection. Patient placement should consider any cross-contamination risks caused by present symptoms or illness.

2. Hand hygiene

Proper and consistent hand hygiene, washing, skin care, and antisepsis must be followed in all pharmacy settings to reduce the transmission of infections.

3. Respiratory and cough hygiene

Promotion of respiratory and cough hygiene within the pharmacy prevents infections spreading, hygiene facilities (tissues, bins, and hand wash facilities) must be provided.

4. Personal protective equipment (PPE)

The likelihood of exposure to blood and/or body fluids should be assessed before procedures are undertaken, and the appropriate PPE should be worn.

5. Safe management of care equipment

Single use and reusable equipment within the pharmacy should be stored and managed correctly to prevent infection transmission. For example, pharmacists must check that packaging of sterile equipment is in-tact, and non-invasive equipment is thoroughly decontaminated between patients.

6. Safe management of the care environment

The pharmaceutical setting must be visibly clean and well maintained at all times.

7. Safe management of linen

Any healthcare laundry must be managed in accordance with HTM 01-04 to prevent the spread of illness and infection.

8. Safe management of blood and body fluid spillage

Qualified pharmacists must be well versed with how to treat the spillage of blood and other bodily fluids to effectively manage infection control in pharmacy environments.

9. Safe disposal of waste (including sharps)

Waste and sharps must be disposed of according to HTM 07-01, which dictates waste management for all healthcare settings including pharmacies.

10. Occupational safety: prevention of exposure (including sharps injuries)

Understanding how to prevent infection, including when sharps injuries occur, is critical to limiting the risk of infection transmission

Effective infection management is taught to all student and trainee pharmacists, with modules covering the topic throughout the four year MPharm degree, as well as that knowledge being put into practise in the training year that follows. 

Qualified pharmacists registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) must stay up-to-date with infection control procedures throughout their careers.

All staff members have to play their role in managing the spread of infection and ensuring that the guidance outlined in NHS England’s national infection prevention and control manual (NIPCM) is executed. For example:

• CEOs must ensure resources and systems are available to carry out the guidance

• COOs are responsible for directing operational activities related to the guidance and providing leadership

• Directors of infection prevention and control (DIPC) must ensure the guidance is adopted and implemented in line with local governance, and that the workforce is educated in all areas of infection control

• Managers must be educated in infection control, have had all required health checks, include infection control as an objective in their personal development plans, and have had the appropriate risk assessments undertaken for themselves

• Staff providing care take on the most hands-on responsibility, and must demonstrate their understanding of infection control measures as well as applying these principles across all aspects of their work. They are also responsible for informing the IPCT and their local UKHSA team of any outbreaks

• Infection prevention and control teams are responsible for engaging with staff to develop processes and systems that improve infection control practices, and should consist of competent, knowledgeable staff with up to date education on infection control.