Healthcare and related

The Department of Health, Health Protection Agency and Health and Safety Executive publish and maintain many guidance documents related to BBV and the health care sector. For general infection control information, the following sources of information are available:

Expert Advisory Group on AIDS and the Advisory Group on Hepatitis (1998). Guidance for clinical health care workers: protection against infection with blood-borne viruses: Recommendations of the Expert Advisory Group on AIDS and the Advisory Group on Hepatitis. Available at: Guidance for clinical health care workers: protection against infection with blood-borne viruses

Department of Health (2002).  AIDS/HIV infected health care workers: Guidance on the management of infected health care workers and patient notification. Available at: HIV-infected health care workers: Guidance on management and patient notification

Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens.  (2005). Biological agents: Managing the risks in laboratories and health care premises.

Collective guidance and advice pages / downloads on all aspects of BBV infection control, including occupational exposure and related topics, available at: Health Protection Agency - Blood-borne Viruses (BBVs) and Occupational Exposure

Guidance documents for health care workers on Hepatitis B and C – as well as related links - are available from the Advisory Group on Hepatitis (AGH) at: Advisory Group on Hepatitis (AGH)

Also, in HIV, from the Expert Advisory Group on Aids (EAGA) at: Expert Advisory Group on AIDS (EAGA)

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have prepared a publication that is endorsed by the MHRA's Microbiology Advisory Committee (MAC) that provides advice on all aspects relating to decontamination of medical equipment. The "MAC Manual" is available at: Sterilization, Disinfection and Cleaning of Medical Equipment: Guidance on Decontamination from the Microbiology Advisory Committee to Department of Health

The MHRA also provide more specific guidance relating to other aspects of decontamination. For example, guidance on the decontamination of community equipment loaned for home or community use is available at: Community Equipment Loan Stores – Guidance on Decontamination

The DH has produced good practice guidelines for Renal Dialysis / Transplantation Units, which includes guidance related to staff and patient safety. Available at: Good practice guidelines for renal dialysis/transplantation units: prevention and control of blood-borne virus infection