Clinical Guidelines

1. Infection Prevention and Control Standard Precaution, Prevention of Sharps Injuries and Prevention of Exposure to Blood and Body Fluids Policy (Update check: 30/10/2019)

2. Blood and Body Fluid Exposure Incident Management Pack (Update check: 30/10/2019)

3. Community Blood Borne Virus Exposure Incidents (Emergency Department Guidance for Management of Exposure to Blood and Body Fluids) (Update check: 30/10/2019)

4. Local policy for the provision of post - exposure prophylaxis for health care workers occupationally exposed to HIV (Update check: 30/10/2019)

5. Post-Exposure Prophylaxis following Sexual Exposure (Update check: 30/10/2019)

1. Expert Advisory Group on Aids (EAGA) guidance on HIV post-exposure prophylaxis

Updated guidance on occupational HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) from the UK Chief Medical Officers' Expert Advisory Group on AIDS (EAGA)

2. Change to recommended regimen for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) (EAGA) (Update check: 30/10/2019)

3. Updated recommendation for HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) following occupational exposure to a source with undetectable HIV viral load (EAGA) (Update check: 30/10/2019)

4. HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (DoH) (Update check: 30/10/2019)

5. UK Guideline for the use of HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Following Sexual Exposure (PEPSE) 2015 (BASHH) (Update check: 30/10/2019)

6. Post-exposure prophylaxis guidelines for children and adolescents potentially exposed to HIV (Update check: 31/12/2019)

7. Bloodborne viruses: management risk in bomb blast victims (Update check: 30/10/2019)

Guidance on managing risk of bloodborne viruses (BBVs), such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV, in bomb blast victims  

8. BBVs in healthcare workers: health clearance and management (Update check: 30/10/2019)

Guidance for health clearance of healthcare workers (HCWs) and management of those infected with bloodborne viruses (BBVs) hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV

1. STH Congenital CMV guidelines (Update check: 30/10/2019)

2. Congenital cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy and the neonate: consensus recommendations for prevention, diagnosis, and therapy (Update check: 03/01/2020)

1. Management of Genital Herpes in Pregnancy (RCOG) (Update check: 30/10/2019)

2. STH Guidelines on Neonatal HSV (Update check: 03/01/2020)

3. Neonatal Herpes Simplex Viral Infections and Acyclovir: An Update (Update check: 03/01/2020)

1. STH Guidelines on Infant Receiving Wrong Mother’s Breast Milk (Update check: 30/10/2019)

1. Rash in pregnancy (Update check: 30/10/2019)

Investigation, diagnosis and management of viral rash illness, or exposure to viral rash illness in pregnancy

1. Immunoglobulin: when to use

PHE's immunoglobulin handbook - guidance on administering immunoglobulin to prevent serious disease

2. Rabies and immunoglobulin service (RIgS) (Update check: 30/10/2019)

3. General product information and how to administer immunoglobulin: Jul 2014 (Update check: 30/10/2019)

4. Guidance on the use of Diphtheria Anti-toxin: August 2018 (Update check: 30/10/2019)

5. Mumps and immunoglobulin: October 2008 (Update check: 30/10/2019)

6. Polio immunoglobulin: October 2008 (Update check: 30/10/2019)

7. Rabies: Human Rabies Immunoglobulin (HRIG) (Update check: 30/10/2019)

1. PHE Hepatitis A infection: prevention and control guidance (The symptoms, diagnosis, management and epidemiology of hepatitis A.)

2. Public health control and management of Hepatitis A: 2017 Guidelines (Update check: 30/10/2019)

3. Human Normal Immunoglobulin (HNIG) for Hepatitis A Post-Exposure (Update check: 30/10/2019)

4. Hepatitis A: the green book, chapter 17 (Update check: 30/10/2019)

1. STH Guidance on Measles Exposures (The symptoms, diagnosis, management and epidemiology of hepatitis A.)

2. PHE National Measles Guidelines (Update check: 30/10/2019)

How to manage cases of suspected measles: what patient details to take; who to notify; assessing risk of disease spreading in close contacts

3. PHE National Measles Guidelines (Update check: 30/10/2019)

4. Measles: post-exposure prophylaxis (Update check: 30/10/2019) (Guidance on the use of post exposure prophylaxis for measles in high risk groups)

1. PHE Rabies vaccine update (Update check: 03/01/2020)

2. Rabies: risk assessment, post-exposure treatment, management (Update check: 03/01/2020)

Guidance on assessing risk following rabies exposure, post-exposure treatment, and public health management of a suspected rabies case in the UK

3. Guidelines on managing rabies post-exposure: October 2019 (Update check: 30/10/2019)

4. Summary of rabies risk assessment and post-exposure treatment (Update check: 30/10/2019)

5. Rabies risks in terrestrial animals by country (Update check: 30/10/2019)

6. PHE Request form for Rabies Post Exposure Treatment (Update check: 30/10/2019)

7. Rabies: administration of vaccine and immunoglobulin  (Update check: 30/10/2019)

8. Human rabies: public health management of a suspected case (Update check: 30/10/2019)

A standard operating procedure to help agencies communicate and act together, to manage any suspected case of human rabies

9. Milwaukee Protocol (Update check: 31/12/2019)

1. Virology and clinical advice – see Clinical Virology (Richman, 4th ed; chapter 21)

2. Recommendations for Prevention of and Therapy for Exposure to B Virus (Cercopithecine Herpesvirus 1) (Update check: 03/01/2020)

1. PHE Hepatitis B: guidance, data and analysis

2. Hepatitis B: the green book, chapter 18

3. Hepatitis B: the green book, chapter 18 (born on/ after 1 August 2017) (Update check: 30/10/2019)

4. Hepatitis B: the green book, chapter 18 (born up to/ including 31 July 2017) (Update check: 30/10/2019)

5. PHE Hepatitis B immunoglobulin: July 2019 (Update check: 30/10/2019)

6. PHE Babies of Hepatitis B infected mothers: August 2008 (Update check: 30/10/2019)

7. PHE Babies of Hepatitis B infected mothers: August 2008 (Update check: 30/10/2019)

8. STH Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin Requisition Form (Update check: 30/10/2019)

9. STH Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin Requisition Form (Neonatal) (Update check: 16/11/2018)

10. STH Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin Requisition Form (Neonatal) (Update check: 16/11/2018)

i. Relevant to all

1. STH Respiratory Transmitted High Consequence Infectious Diseases Policy (Update check: 30/10/2019)

2. Virus Isolation Reference Laboratory Work (VIVI009) (Update check: 30/10/2019)

ii. MERS Co-V 

1. Shortcut to Action card for sending MERS CoV samples (Update check: 30/10/2019)

2. Shortcut to Virologists’ Guide to Handling MERS samples (Update check: 30/10/2019) (see appendix 6)

3. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV): clinical management and guidance

4. Investigation and public health management of people with possible Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS CoV) infection (PHE) (Update check: 30/10/2019)

5. Referral of samples for Testing for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in England (PHE) (Update check: 30/10/2019)

6. MERS-CoV Close Contact Algorithm (PHE) (Update check: 30/10/2019)

7. PHE risk assessment of MERS-CoV (Update check: 30/10/2019)

8. Treatment of MERS-CoV: Information for Clinicians: Clinical decision-making support for treatment of MERS-CoV patients (Update check: 30/10/2019)

9. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV): Infection Prevention and Control Guidance (Update check: 30/10/2019)

iii. Avian flu 

1. Avian influenza: guidance, data and analysis (The symptoms, diagnosis, management and epidemiology of avian influenza (bird flu). 

(See under ‘Epidemiology’ for risk assessments on specific Avian influenza types)

2. Avian influenza: guidance and algorithms for managing human cases

3. Investigation and initial clinical management of possible human cases of avian influenza viruses that have been associated with severe human disease (Update check: 30/10/2019)

4. Reporting form for suspected human cases of avian influenza  (Update check: 30/10/2019)

5. PHE Laboratory Investigations: Avian influenza A(H7) and influenza A(H5) (Update check: 30/10/2019)

i. Clinical/ VHF risk assessment 

1. STH VHF Policy (Update check: 03/01/2020)

2. PHE Ebola virus disease: clinical management and guidance (Update check: 03/01/2020)

Guidance, resources and information for professionals about Ebola virus disease, a severe viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF)

3. Viral haemorrhagic fever: ACDP algorithm and guidance on management of patients (Update check: 03/01/2020)

Specialist guidance on the management (including infection control) of patients with viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF)

4. Management of Hazard Group 4 viral haemorrhagic fevers and similar human infectious diseases of high consequence: November 2015 (DoH) (Update check: 16/11/2018)

5. Viral haemorrhagic fevers risk assessment algorithm (Update check: 16/11/2018)

6. STH Sheffield Children's Hospital VHF Protocol (Update check: 27/02/2018)

ii. Other VHF-related guidance 

1. Ribavirin for treating Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever (Update check: 03/01/2020)

2. Ribavirin for the treatment of Lassa fever: A systematic review and meta-analysis (Update check: 03/01/2020)

3. Post-exposure prophylaxis against Ebola virus disease with experimental antiviral agents: a case-series of health-care workers (Update check: 03/01/2020)

4. Research and Development: diagnostics, vaccines and therapies (Update check: 03/01/2020)

1. STH Guidelines for Hepatitis B screening and prophylaxis for patients requiring immunosuppressive treatment(Update check: 31/12/2019)

2. British Transplantation Society Guidelines for HBV and SOT(Update check: 03/01/2020)

1. STH Virology Guidance on Chronic HEV

2. Summary of the British Transplantation Society UK Guidelines for Hepatitis E and Solid Organ Transplantation (Update check: 31/12/2019)

3. Hepatitis E (HEV) and Solid Organ Transplantation (Update check: 03/01/2020)

4. EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines on hepatitis E virus infection(Update check: 03/01/2020)

1. STH Guidelines: Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) and Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) Monitoring and Treatment Post Transplant (Update check: 30/10/2019)

1. STH Guidelines: Screening and treatment for cytomegalovirus (CMV) post allogeneic haemopoietic cell transplant (Update check: 30/10/2019)

2. Definitions of Cytomegalovirus Infection and Disease in Transplant Patients for Use in Clinical Trials (Update check: 03/01/2020)

3. Absolute Lymphocyte Count: A Predictor of Recurrent Cytomegalovirus Disease in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients (Update check: 03/01/2020)

4. Management of cytomegalovirus infection in haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (Update check: 03/01/2020)

5. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Trial of Oral Brincidofovir for Cytomegalovirus Prophylaxis in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (Update check: 03/01/2020)

1. Adenovirus infections in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients (Update check: 31/12/2019)

2. European guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of adenovirus infection in leukemia and stem cell transplantation: summary of ECIL‐4 (Update check: 31/12/2019)

1. STH Guidelines Management of BK Polyoma Virus Infection Post Stem Cell Transplant (Update check: 30/10/2019)

2. ECIL guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of BK polyomavirus-associated haemorrhagic cystitis in haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (Update check: 03/01/2020)

3. Efficacy of Cidofovir in Treatment of BK Virus–Induced Hemorrhagic Cystitis in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients (Update check: 03/01/2020)

4. Comparison of intravenous or intravesical cidofovir in the treatment of BK polyomavirus‐associated hemorrhagic cystitis following adult allogeneic stem cell transplantation—A systematic review (Update check: 03/01/2020)

1. Fourth European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia (ECIL-4): guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of human respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, metapneumovirus, rhinovirus, and coronavirus (Update check: 03/01/2020)

2. Management of Respiratory Viral Infections in Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients and Patients With Hematologic Malignancies (Update check: 03/01/2020)

3. STH Guidelines on Treatment for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) (Update check: 30/10/2019)

1. Management of Epstein-Barr Virus infections and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: ECIL-6 guidelines (Update check: 03/01/2020)

1. Antiviral T Cells for Adenovirus in the Pretransplant Period: A Bridge Therapy for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (Update check: 31/12/2019)

2. Viral-specific T-cell transfer from HSCT donor for the treatment of viral infections or diseases after HSCT (Update check: 03/01/2020)

1. Blood-borne virus infection: prevention and control (Good practice guidelines for renal dialysis/transplantation units on the prevention and control of BBV)

2. Good Practice Guidelines for Renal Dialysis/Transplantation Units (DoH) (Update check: 30/10/2019)

3. Good Practice Guideline: Addendum (Update check: 30/10/2019)

4. Management of BK Virus Reactivation in Renal Transplant Recipients (Update check: 30/10/2019)

5. Pretransplantation Donor–Recipient Pair Seroreactivity Against BK Polyomavirus Predicts Viremia and Nephropathy After Kidney Transplantation (Update check: 03/01/2020)

6. Protocol for prophylaxis, surveillance and treatment of CMV after renal transplantation (Update check: 30/10/2019)

7. Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Blood Borne Virus Infections in Adult Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (Update check: 30/10/2019)

1. The Third International Consensus Guidelines on the Management of Cytomegalovirus in Solid-organ Transplantation (Update check: 03/01/2020)

2. The Prevention and Management of CMV Disease after Solid Organ Transplantation (Update check: 03/01/2020)

1. Diagnosis of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder in solid organ transplant recipients – BCSH and BTS Guidelines (Update check: 03/01/2020)

2. Management of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder in adult solid organ transplant recipients – BCSH and BTS Guidelines (Update check: 03/01/2020)

1. Stratification and monitoring of natalizumab-associated PML risk: recommendations from an expert group (Update check: 03/01/2020)

2. JC virus antibody index in natalizumab-treated patients: correlations with John Cunningham virus DNA and C-reactive protein level (Update check: 03/01/2020)

Molecular biology, epidemiology, and pathogenesis of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, the JC virus-induced demyelinating disease of the human brain (Update check: 03/01/2020)

Infectious Complications of Multiple Sclerosis Therapies: Implications for Screening, Prophylaxis, and Management (Update check: 03/01/2020)

The trichodysplasia spinulosa-associated polyomavirus: virological background and clinical implications (Update check: 03/01/2020)

1. SaBTO: Reports published by the advisory committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO)

2. SaBTO microbiological safety guidelines (Update check: 31/12/2019)

3. Summary of major changes to guidelines (Update check: 03/01/2020)

4. Protecting patients from getting hepatitis E through transfusion or transplantation (Update check: 31/12/2019)

5. Organ donation and seasonal flu (Update check: 31/12/2019)

6. West Nile virus and solid organ transplantation (Update check: 31/12/2019)

7. Risk assessment of the transmission of vCJD by blood components (Update check: 31/12/2019)

8. Fertility problems: assessment and treatment (Update check: 31/12/2019)

BIA Management of suspected viral encephalitis in adults (Update check: 30/10/2019)

BIA Management of suspected viral encephalitis in children (Update check: 30/10/2019)

BIA diagnosis and management of acute meningitis and meningococcal sepsis in immunocompetent adults (Update check: 30/10/2019)

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus: An under-recognized cause of neurologic disease in the fetus, child, and adult (Update check: 31/12/2019)

1. Aciclovir summary BNF

2. Aciclovir therapeutic levels (Update check: 03/01/2020)

3. Ganciclovir therapeutic levels (Update check: 03/01/2020)

4. New therapies for human cytomegalovirus infections (Update check: 03/01/2020)

1. Green Book homepage: Immunisation against infectious disease (Update check: 03/01/2020)

2. STH Live vaccine guidance

3. Shingles: the green book, chapter 28a (Update check: 30/10/2019)

4. PHE Influenza Immunisation Guidance (Update check: 03/01/2020)

5. Flu vaccines: 2019 to 2020 flu season (Update check: 03/01/2020)

1. Influenza: treatment and prophylaxis using anti-viral agents Guidance on how to manage influenza (flu) using anti-viral agents

2. PHE guidance on the use of antivirals agents for the treatment and prophylaxis of seasonal influenza (Update check: 30/10/2019)

3. PHE document on evidence for treatment: The use of antivirals for the treatment and prophylaxis of influenza: PHE summary of current guidance for healthcare professionals  (Update check: 30/10/2019)

4. Public Health England (PHE) Letter to Clinicians about Tamiflu  (Update check: 30/10/2019)

5. STH guidance on use of antiviral agents in adults for the treatment and prophylaxis of influenza in renal impairment (Update check: 30/10/2019)

6. Zanamivir Patient Medication Request Form (Update check: 30/10/2019)

7. Zanamivir Physician's Guidance (Update check: 30/10/2019)

1. Sample action cards for suspected VHF for NGH/ areas other than E floor (Update check: 03/01/2020)

2. Sample action cards for suspected VHF for E floor (Update check: 03/01/2020)

3. STH Virology Medics VHF Pack (Update check: 03/01/2020)

4. Laboratory algorithm for the handling of specimens for suspected/ confirmed VHF cases (Update check: 03/01/2020)

5. STH LMCP049 Laboratory Procedures for Handling Specimens from Patients at Risk of Infection with Category 4 Viruses (Update check: 16/11/2018)

1. RCPath Key performance indicators – proposals for implementation (Update check: 03/01/2020)

2. RCPath How to Assess the Quality of a Pathology Service (Update check: 03/01/2020)

3. Report of the Review of NHS Pathology Services in England (Update check: 03/01/2020)

4. RCPath Response to Carter Review (Update check: 03/01/2020)

5. The Modernisation of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in the UK: Networking into the Future (Update check: 03/01/2020)

6. Health and Social Care Act 2012: fact sheets (Update check: 03/01/2020)

7. Wilson Criteria for Screening (Update check: 03/01/2020)

1. HSE &ACDP Approved List of Biological Agents (Update check: 03/01/2020)

2. HSE & ACDP Management and operation of microbiological containment laboratories (Update check: 03/01/2020)

3. Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974  (Update check: 03/01/2020)

4. Reporting accidents and incidents at work (RIDDOR) (Update check: 03/01/2020)

5. Control of substances hazardous to health regulations 2002 (Update check: 03/01/2020)

6. The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 (Update check: 03/01/2020)

7. Transporting infectious substances (Update check: 03/01/2020)

8. Guidelines for the Safe Transport of Infectious Substances & Diagnostic Specimens (Update check: 03/01/2020)

1.International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 15189 (Update check: 03/01/2020)

2. UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations Q 1: evaluations, validations and verifications of diagnostic tests (Update check: 03/01/2020)

3. UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations Q 2: quality assurance in the diagnostic virology and serology laboratory (Update check: 03/01/2020)

4. Basic overview of method validation in the clinical virology laboratory (Update check: 03/01/2020)

5. Westgard Rules (Update check: 03/01/2020)

1. Real-time PCR: Understanding Ct (Update check: 03/01/2020)

2. qPCR primer design revisited (Update check: 03/01/2020)

3. Electron microscopy in rapid viral diagnosis: an update (Update check: 03/01/2020)

1. Point of Care Tests for Influenza and other Respiratory Viruses (Update check: 03/01/2020)

2. Point-of-care testing: why is accreditation of this service needed? (Update check: 03/01/2020)

3. What's Old Is New Again: Laboratory Oversight of Point of Care Testing—Guidelines, Challenges, and Practical Strategies (Update check: 03/01/2020)

4. Rapid point of care diagnostic tests for viral and bacterial respiratory tract infections--needs, advances, and future prospects (Update check: 03/01/2020)

1. Phylogeny for the faint of heart: a tutorial (Update check: 03/01/2020)

2. Introduction to Phylogenetic Analysis - Irit Orr (Update check: 03/01/2020)

1. Minimum Standards for Sample Acceptance

2. Refrigeration of clinical samples in Primary Care

3. Sample Transport Requirements

4. Vacutainers for STH

1. Chlamydophila - clinical information and diagnosis

2. Measles: confirming diagnosis

3. Mycoplasma - a guide to diagnostic testing

4. Pertussis Diagnosis Summary

5. Q Fever - a guide to diagnostic testing

6. Self Collected Vaginal Swabs for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea

7. Throat swab collection for respiratory viruses

1. Viral Transmission Summary

2. Virology summary of guidelines for IPC in hospitals/ schools

3. STH PPE Levels Guide (Update check: 30/10/2019)

4. STH Infection Control Isolation Precautions & Patient Placement Guidelines (Update check: 03/01/2020)

5. STH Cleaning Types (RAG) Poster (Update check: 03/01/2020)

6. STH Outbreak Control Plan (Update check: 03/01/2020)

1. STH Infection Prevention and Control Policy for Respiratory Viruses

Version: V1 | Date: June, 2019 | Update check: 30/10/2019

2. STH Infection Prevention and Control - Influenza Information

Contains links to below guidance, relevant to all standard respiratory viruses Version: | Date: | Update check: 30/10/2019

1. Standard Wards

Version: V2 | Date: November, 2017 | Update check: 30/10/2019

2. High Risk Areas

Version: V2 | Date: November, 2017 | Update check: 30/10/2019

3. Intermediate Care Units

Version: V1 | Date: December, 2017 | Update check: 30/10/2019

4. Community Settings

Version: | Date: December, 2018 | Update check:

5. Stopping Infection Control Precautions for Patients with Group B vRTI

Version: | Date: | Update check: 16/11/2018

6. Highly Infectious Pathogens – Personal Protection Equipment: Putting on Masks Correctly, Mask Fit Test

Version: | Date: | Update check: 30/10/2019

1. STH Infection Prevention and Control - Influenza Information

Version: | Date: | Update check: 30/10/2019

2. Influenza Contact Record Sheet

Version: V1 | Date: November, 2009 | Update check: 16/11/2018

3. Occupational Health Protocol for Staff with, or Exposed to Influenza

Version: | Date: December, 2017 | Update check: 16/11/2018

4. Seasonal influenza: guidance, data and analysis

The symptoms, diagnosis, management, surveillance and epidemiology of seasonal influenza (flu) Version: | Date: | Update check:

5. Seasonal influenza: guidance for adult critical care units: July 2017

Version: V1 | Date: July, 2017 | Update check: 30/10/2019

1. STH Infection Control – Principles of Care on the Neonatal Unit

Version: 4 | Date: January, 2019 | Update check: 03/01/2020

1. ISTH HCID assessment algorithm

2. STH Outbreak Control Plan (Update check: 03/01/2020)

3. PHE HCID Web Page (Update check: 03/01/2020)

4. STH PPE Levels Guide (Update check: 30/10/2019)

5.High Consequence Infectious Disease Training UK - (hcid-training.co.uk) (Update Check 13/01/2023)