Infection Prevention at Home: The Practical To-Do List
Infection Prevention at Home: what is worth doing, what is worth avoiding, and when to stop and see a doctor.
Practical measures that reduce transmission of respiratory and gastrointestinal infection in a household. Ventilation is the most effective and least used of them, and costs nothing.
Key takeaways
- Ventilation: open windows periodically; even a few minutes helps
- Most protective mask type: a well-fitted FFP2 or FFP3 respirator
- Most useful single change: Open windows when indoors with others during a respiratory wave.
- Commonest mistake: Relying on air fresheners or sprays instead of ventilation.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
Do
- Open windows when indoors with others during a respiratory wave
- Isolate the unwell person to one room and bathroom where possible
- Clean frequently touched surfaces during an outbreak
- Wear a well-fitting mask if you must go out while symptomatic
Do not
- Relying on air fresheners or sprays instead of ventilation
- Sharing towels during a gastrointestinal illness
- Returning to work or school too early
The numbers behind the list
The list is built from the numbers below, which come from the bodies cited at the end.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Ventilation | open windows periodically; even a few minutes helps |
| Most protective mask type | a well-fitted FFP2 or FFP3 respirator |
| Norovirus exclusion | 48 hours after symptoms stop |
| Cleaning | detergent first, then disinfectant where needed |
| Laundry from someone unwell | wash separately at the highest safe temperature |
If you change one thing
Open windows when indoors with others during a respiratory wave. That one first, and the others when you get to them.
Where to go next
- The Evidence on Infection Prevention at Home, Without the Hype
- What Infection Prevention at Home Is, and Why It Matters
- Infection Prevention at Home — the reference entry
- The Evidence on Immune Function, Without the Hype
- Vaccination: What the Evidence Actually Says
When to speak to a doctor
Seek urgent advice for anyone who is immunosuppressed and develops a fever, for difficulty breathing, for signs of dehydration in a baby or older adult, or for a rash that does not fade under pressure. Call 999 for severe breathlessness, confusion, or a seizure.
Where this comes from
- UK Health Security Agency — infection prevention guidance
- NHS — How to avoid spreading infection
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
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