Guidance for obtaining faecal specimens from patients with diarrhoea

This guidance has been developed by Health Protection Scotland (HPS) at the request of the Scottish Government Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Task Force. The guidance was produced by an expert working grou​​p to improve patient safety by ensuring early detection of infectious agents causing diarrhoea, which may occur in the healthcare environment resulting in healthcare associated infections.

This guidance provides advice to those involved in the ​​diagnosis, prevention and control of infectious diarrhoea,  and provision of appropriate equipment and staff training in the NHS.​

This includes all Healthcare Workers and management in NHSScotland.