epic3 Guidelines

Evidence-based Practice in Infection Control (EPIC) Patient safety remains at the heart of government health policy and the prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HCAI) continues to be a key priority in ensuring high quality care. Guidelines based on the best available evidence of effectiveness are an important tool for setting standards of care and assisting healthcare staff in delivering safe care. The epic guidelines were first commissioned by the Department of Health in 1998, revised in 2006 (epic2) and published in the Journal of Hospital Infection in 2001 and 2007. The Richard Wells Research Centre, funded by the Department of Health, undertook the revision and update of the epic2 National Guidelines for the Prevention of Healthcare Associated Infection in NHS Hospitals in England. These guidelines (epic3) provide comprehensive recommendations for preventing HCAI in hospital and other acute care settings based on the best currently available evidence. National evidence-based guidelines are broad principles of best practice that need to be integrated into local practice guidelines and audited to reduce variation in practice and maintain patient safety. Clinically effective infection prevention and control practice is an essential feature of patient protection. By incorporating these guidelines into routine daily clinical practice, patient safety can be enhanced and the risk of patients acquiring an infection during episodes of health care in NHS hospitals in England can be minimised.