R16 Response Accepted AI-assessed

CDI outbreak reporting

Recommendation

Health Boards should ensure that the nurse in charge of each ward reports suspected outbreaks of CDI (as defined in local guidance) to the Infection Control Team.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
Healthcare Improvement Scotland's (HIS) Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Standards (2022), specifically Standard 4, mandate the reporting of suspected outbreaks to IPC teams (Healthcare Improvement Scotland, 2022). The National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM), introduced in January 2012, provides detailed guidance including mandatory *Clostridioides difficile* infection (CDI) outbreak reporting protocols (Scottish Government, 2015; Healthcare Improvement Scotland, 2022). National mandatory CDI surveillance has been operational since 2006 for patients aged 65+ and since April 2009 for all patients aged 15+ (Healthcare Improvement Scotland, 2022).
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 24 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, www.gov.scot, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
This recommendation requires implementation across many organisations. The assessment reflects central policy response, not adoption in individual organisations.
Jurisdiction
Scotland
Response
Accepted
Accepted Scottish Government
18 Jun 2015

Section 2.1 of the Scottish Government's response highlights a robust HAI scrutiny regime across NHS Scotland, which drives improvements in infection control and prevention practices. The National Infection Prevention and Control Manual, introduced in January 2012, provides NHS boards with guidance on evidence-based practice, monitoring, and scrutiny of infection prevention and control, which would include procedures for reporting suspected outbreaks.

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Published Evidence

Published assessments of implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.

Confirmed Completed
01 May 2022
Healthcare Improvement Scotland Other

HIS IPC Standards (2022) Standard 4 (Assurance and Monitoring) requires reporting of suspected outbreaks to IPC teams. NIPCM provides detailed outbreak management guidance including mandatory CDI outbreak reporting protocols.

View detailed findings

National mandatory CDI surveillance has been in place since 2006 for patients aged 65+ and since April 2009 for all patients aged 15+. Quarterly epidemiological data published by Public Health Scotland.

NIPCM outbreak management guidance View Source
Source
Inquiry Vale of Leven Inquiry
Report The Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Report 24 Nov 2014
View Source
Responsible Bodies
NHS Health Boards (Scotland) Primary
Themes & Tags
Disease outbreak surveillance Care home infection control Outbreak Infection Control Nursing
Recommendation age 11.3 yrs
Last formal update 3932 days ago