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FRCPath Prep
Medical Microbiology
UK guidelines for FRCPath Microbiology.
UK guidelines matter even more than textbooks for both Part 1 and Part 2. Here are the 31 sources examiners write against — including Scotland and Northern Ireland — what each covers and what to focus on.
01Use the current version. UK guidance changes often — always read it online, not from old printouts.
02Read for decisions. Note who gets what, when and why — thresholds, prophylaxis and exclusions.
03Test yourself. Our question banks are written against these same documents.
4 guidelines
Laboratory practice
How UK laboratories process, identify, test and stay safe.
UKHSA
UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations (SMIs)EUCAST
EUCAST breakpoints and expert rulesHSE · ACDPNEW
The Approved List of biological agentsACDP TSE RISK MANAGEMENT SUBGROUP
Prions and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies5 guidelines
Antimicrobials and stewardship
Prescribing, stewardship and resistance surveillance.
NICE · UKHSANEW
NICE antimicrobial prescribing guidelinesUKHSANEW
Start Smart – Then FocusUKHSANEW
ESPAUR reportBRITISH SOCIETY FOR ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPYNEW
BSAC guidance and resourcesNICE · BNFNEW
British National Formulary (BNF)3 guidelines
Infection prevention and control
Policies, manuals and the hospital environment.
NHS ENGLANDNEW
National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM)HIS
Healthcare Infection Society guidelinesNHS ENGLAND
Health Technical Memoranda (HTMs)7 guidelines
Public health and vaccination
Immunisation, notification, outbreaks and imported infection.
UKHSA
The Green BookUKHSANEW
Notifiable diseases and how to report themUKHSANEW
Communicable disease outbreak management guidanceUKHSANEW
High consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs)UKHSA
UKHSA public health guidance by infectionUKHSA
Health Protection ReportNATHNACNEW
TravelHealthPro4 guidelines
Clinical guidelines
National and specialty guidance on managing infection.
NICE
NICE guidelines and Clinical Knowledge SummariesBIANEW
British Infection Association guidelinesBRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR SEXUAL HEALTH AND HIV
BASHH guidelinesBRITISH HIV ASSOCIATION
BHIVA guidelines8 guidelines
Scotland and Northern Ireland
The devolved-nation equivalents — use these if you work in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
ARHAI SCOTLANDNEW
National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (Scotland)ARHAI SCOTLAND · NHS NSSNEW
ARHAI Scotland annual reportHEALTHCARE IMPROVEMENT SCOTLANDNEW
Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group (SAPG)PUBLIC HEALTH SCOTLANDNEW
Public Health ScotlandPUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY NINEW
Regional Infection Prevention and Control Manual (Northern Ireland)PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY NINEW
Health protection guidance (Northern Ireland)PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY NINEW
Northern Ireland Infectious Disease Incident / Outbreak PlanHSC NORTHERN IRELANDNEW
Northern Ireland Formulary: infections chapterKnow the guidance. Answer like a consultant.
Every FRCPath Prep question is referenced to current UK guidance — 5,300+ Part 1 MCQs and 1,000+ questions in each Part 2 bank.
Links go to the issuing organisations’ own websites. Always use the latest version. FRCPath Prep is independent and not affiliated with, or endorsed by, UKHSA, NICE, NHS England, ARHAI Scotland, the Public Health Agency, the Royal College of Pathologists or the societies listed.
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