This guideline covers preventing and controlling healthcare-associated infections in children, young people and adults in primary and community care settings. It provides a blueprint for the infection prevention and control precautions that should be applied by everyone involved in delivering NHS care and treatment.mIn February 2017 a footnote was added to recommendation 1.1.4.2 linking to Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013. A footnote was also added to recommendations 1.4.3.1, 1.4.3.8, 1.4.4.1 and 1.4.4.11 linking to a safety alert on chlorhexidine. Other footnotes were updated with references to revised or replaced British Standards and other regulations.