NHS INTERVIEW GUIDE

Infection Prevention and Control Interview Questions: Answers for NHS Roles

How to answer infection prevention and control questions for healthcare assistant, nursing, domestic and other NHS roles, covering standard precautions, hand hygiene, PPE, isolation and outbreaks, with 12 practice questions and a worked STAR example.

Last updated 24 October 2026 · Created by a practising NHS doctor · Independent of the NHS

Quick answer

How do I answer infection prevention and control questions in an NHS interview?

Explain that standard precautions apply to every patient, every time, starting with hand hygiene at the five moments and PPE chosen by risk assessment. Add that transmission-based precautions such as isolation are used for suspected or confirmed infection. Show you would report concerns promptly to the person in charge or infection prevention team, follow local policy and support a real example with STAR.

Key takeaways

Standard precautions apply to every patient, every time.
Know the five moments and when to use soap and water.
Choose PPE by risk and remove it safely.
Report suspected infection promptly and follow local policy.
Tailor your examples to the role you are applying for.

To answer infection prevention and control (IPC) questions in an NHS interview, explain that standard infection control precautions apply to every patient, every time, starting with hand hygiene and the right personal protective equipment (PPE), and that extra transmission-based precautions such as isolation are added when an infection is suspected or confirmed. Show you would follow local policy, report concerns to the person in charge or the infection prevention team, and back your answer with a short, real example.

IPC questions come up for healthcare assistants, nurses, midwives, domestic staff, porters, phlebotomists, allied health professionals and many other roles, because everyone in care settings can spread or prevent infection. This guide covers the key principles, role-specific questions, suspected infections and outbreaks, 12 practice questions, a worked STAR answer, what panels look for, common mistakes and a preparation plan. Procedures vary, so always follow your employer's policy.

In this guide

What infection control questions are asked in NHS interviews?
What are standard infection control precautions?
How do I answer hand hygiene questions?
How do I answer questions about PPE?
What would you do if a patient had a suspected infection?
What happens during an outbreak on a ward?
How do IPC questions differ for HCAs, nurses, domestics and other roles?
What are common infection prevention and control interview questions?
What is a good STAR answer to an infection control question?
What do panels look for, and what mistakes should I avoid?
How should I prepare for infection control interview questions?

What infection control questions are asked in NHS interviews?

Most IPC questions test whether you know the basics and would apply them under pressure. They tend to fall into a few themes, and the depth expected depends on the role.

Knowledge: what are standard precautions, when should you clean your hands, how do you choose PPE?
Scenarios: a patient with diarrhoea, a colleague not cleaning their hands, a needlestick injury.
Outbreaks: what happens when a bay is closed for norovirus or another infection?
Experience and values: tell me about a time you prevented infection spreading, and why is IPC everyone's job?

What are standard infection control precautions?

Standard infection control precautions (SICPs) are the basic measures used by all staff, for all patients, at all times, whether or not an infection is known. In England they are set out in the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual, Scotland has its own national manual, and Wales and Northern Ireland have their own guidance. The elements below are broadly similar across the UK. Naming several with a practical example is a strong answer.

Patient placement and assessment for infection risk: thinking about where a patient should be cared for.
Hand hygiene: at the right moments, with the right method.
Respiratory and cough hygiene: catch it, bin it, wash your hands.
Personal protective equipment: chosen by risk assessment.
Safe management of care equipment: cleaning, single use items and labelling clean equipment.
Safe management of the care environment: a clean, clutter-free environment.
Safe management of linen: handling and bagging used and infectious linen correctly.
Safe management of blood and body fluid spills.
Safe disposal of waste, including sharps.
Occupational safety: preventing and managing exposures such as sharps injuries.

How do I answer hand hygiene questions?

Say that hand hygiene is the single most important way to prevent infection spreading, then explain when and how you clean your hands. Many trusts use the World Health Organization's five moments for hand hygiene.

Five moments: before touching a patient, before a clean or aseptic procedure, after a risk of body fluid exposure, after touching a patient, and after touching a patient's surroundings.
Soap and water or alcohol rub: alcohol rub is fine for visibly clean hands, but use soap and water when hands are visibly dirty and when caring for patients with diarrhoea and vomiting, as alcohol rub is not effective against some organisms such as the spores of Clostridioides difficile and norovirus.
Technique: follow the recommended steps so all surfaces are covered, and dry hands thoroughly.
Bare below the elbows: many clinical areas expect short sleeves, no wrist jewellery and short, natural nails, so check local policy.

How do I answer questions about PPE?

Explain that PPE is chosen by assessing the risk of exposure to blood, body fluids or infection, protects both you and patients, and is usually single use. Show you know how to put it on and take it off safely.

Gloves: for contact with blood, body fluids, mucous membranes or broken skin, changed between patients and tasks, with hand hygiene after removal. Gloves are not a substitute for hand hygiene.
Aprons and gowns: when clothing could be contaminated, with gowns for more extensive risk.
Eye and face protection: where splashing is possible.
Masks and respirators: as directed by local policy for respiratory infections, including fit testing where required.
Donning and doffing: follow the order in local policy, remove PPE carefully to avoid contaminating yourself, dispose of it correctly and clean your hands.

What would you do if a patient had a suspected infection?

Act promptly: tell the nurse in charge, apply the right precautions and follow the local isolation policy, asking the infection prevention team if unsure. For a common scenario, new unexplained diarrhoea, cover these steps adjusted to your role.

1. Report it: tell the nurse in charge or responsible clinician straight away.
2. Isolate: move the patient to a side room where possible, as directed, and put appropriate signage up.
3. Use transmission-based precautions: contact, droplet or airborne precautions depending on the suspected infection.
4. Hand hygiene with soap and water for diarrhoea and vomiting.
5. Record and sample: document symptoms, for example on a stool chart, and send samples as your role and policy allow.
6. Clean: arrange enhanced cleaning of equipment and the environment with domestic colleagues.
7. Communicate: explain to the patient and visitors what is happening and why, and hand over clearly.

What happens during an outbreak on a ward?

During an outbreak, the infection prevention team usually leads, and staff follow their instructions closely. Interview answers should show you understand the basics and would support the plan, not invent your own.

Early recognition: report when two or more patients or staff have similar symptoms.
Bay or ward closure: restricting admissions, transfers and movement as directed.
Cohorting: grouping affected patients together and, where possible, the staff who care for them.
Enhanced cleaning: often with specific products and frequency set by local policy.
Staff illness: staying off while symptomatic and returning only when local policy allows.

How do IPC questions differ for HCAs, nurses, domestics and other roles?

Every role needs the basics, but panels will tailor scenarios to the work you would do. Prepare examples that match the job description.

Healthcare assistants: hand hygiene, PPE in personal care, cleaning commodes, stool charts, reporting symptoms.
Nurses and midwives: aseptic technique, line and catheter care, isolation decisions with the IPC team, audits.
Domestic and housekeeping staff: colour coding, cleaning schedules, terminal cleans, spills and waste.
Porters: moving infectious patients, cleaning equipment, waste and linen.
Phlebotomists and allied health professionals: sharps safety and cleaning equipment between patients.
Admin and reception staff: respiratory hygiene, clean shared surfaces, directing symptomatic patients per policy.

What are common infection prevention and control interview questions?

These are typical practice themes for IPC questions, not real questions from any interview.

What are standard infection control precautions? Name several with examples.
When should you clean your hands? Use the five moments.
When would you use soap and water instead of alcohol gel? Visibly dirty hands, diarrhoea and vomiting.
How do you decide what PPE to wear? Risk assessment and local policy.
What would you do if a patient developed diarrhoea? Report, isolate, precautions, document.
What would you do if you saw a colleague not cleaning their hands? A polite reminder, then escalate if it continues.
What would you do after a needlestick injury? Encourage bleeding, wash with soap and running water, cover, report urgently to occupational health or as policy says.
How would you clean up a blood spill? PPE, the correct spill kit and product, safe disposal.
What is the difference between standard and transmission-based precautions? All patients versus additional measures for known or suspected infection.
What happens when a bay is closed for norovirus? Cohorting, cleaning, restrictions and staff exclusion.
Tell me about a time you helped prevent the spread of infection. Use STAR.
Why is infection control everyone's responsibility? Every contact matters, whatever your role.

What is a good STAR answer to an infection control question?

A good IPC answer shows prompt action, correct precautions and clear communication. This example suits a domestic or housekeeping role, and the structure works for healthcare assistants too.

Example answer: spotting early signs of an outbreak (ward housekeeper)

Situation: Working as a ward housekeeper on an older people's ward, I noticed that two patients in the same bay had used the toilet frequently overnight and a commode had been left uncleaned near the bay.

Task: I knew diarrhoea could mean an infection that spreads easily, so I needed to tell the clinical team and make sure the area was cleaned correctly.

Action: I told the nurse in charge what I had noticed, and she isolated one patient and contacted the infection prevention team. Meanwhile I put on gloves and an apron, cleaned the commode with the correct product, labelled it clean and washed my hands with soap and water. I then followed the enhanced cleaning schedule for the bay my supervisor gave me, including frequently touched surfaces, and recorded each clean.

Result: Both patients were later found to have norovirus. The bay was closed briefly, but the infection did not spread further, and the nurse in charge thanked me for raising it early. I learned that reporting what I see matters as much as cleaning well.

What do panels look for, and what mistakes should I avoid?

Panels look for safe habits, confidence with the basics and willingness to speak up. The most common mistakes are vague answers and suggesting you would cut corners when busy.

Look for: hand hygiene and PPE explained correctly, with the reasons why.
Look for: prompt reporting to the person in charge or IPC team.
Look for: following local policy and knowing when to ask.
Look for: challenging poor practice politely, including senior colleagues.
Avoid: saying gloves replace hand hygiene.
Avoid: quoting exact timings or products as universal rules, since these vary by policy.
Avoid: examples where you skipped precautions because you were busy.
Avoid: forgetting the patient, who may feel isolated or anxious in a side room.

How should I prepare for infection control interview questions?

Review the standard precautions for your nation, check the IPC basics for the role, and prepare one or two real examples. Free help includes your trust's mandatory IPC training, practice educators, unions and NHS Jobs interview advice. Healthcare Interview Prep is one independent self-study option, with 40 original practice questions and written model answers for each of 471 NHS roles. It is not affiliated with the NHS and does not offer live coaching or mock interviews.

Step 1: Read the standard precautions summary in the national IPC manual or guidance for your nation.
Step 2: Learn the five moments for hand hygiene and when to use soap and water.
Step 3: Practise explaining how you choose and remove PPE.
Step 4: Prepare answers to the diarrhoea, needlestick and spill scenarios.
Step 5: Write one STAR example of preventing infection spreading.
Step 6: Practise aloud and ask a colleague or mentor for feedback.

Frequently asked questions

What are the five moments for hand hygiene?

The five moments, from the World Health Organization and used by many NHS organisations, are before touching a patient, before a clean or aseptic procedure, after a risk of body fluid exposure, after touching a patient and after touching a patient's surroundings. In an interview, list them, then give a quick example from your own work, such as cleaning your hands before helping someone eat.

Do domestic and support staff get asked infection control questions?

Yes, often more than other roles, because domestic, housekeeping and porter staff play a major part in preventing infection. Expect questions on colour coding, cleaning products, spills, waste, linen, isolation rooms and outbreaks. Show you follow cleaning schedules and local policy, use the right PPE, clean your hands, and report anything that worries you to your supervisor or the nurse in charge.

What is the difference between standard and transmission-based precautions?

Standard infection control precautions are used for every patient, every time, such as hand hygiene, PPE by risk assessment and safe waste disposal. Transmission-based precautions are extra measures added when an infection is known or suspected, depending on how it spreads: contact, droplet or airborne. They often include isolation, specific PPE and enhanced cleaning, as advised by the infection prevention team.

What should I say about a needlestick injury in an interview?

Say you would encourage the wound to bleed gently, wash it with soap and running water without scrubbing, cover it, and report it immediately to your manager and occupational health, or follow out of hours arrangements in local policy, because any treatment may be time sensitive. Mention completing an incident report and that safe sharps practice, such as never resheathing needles, prevents most injuries.

Do I need to know my trust's infection control policy before the interview?

You are not expected to know a new employer's policy in detail, but it helps to know the national standard precautions for your nation and to say you would follow local policy. If the trust publishes IPC information or annual reports, a quick read can help you mention its priorities. Panels mainly want to see safe habits, good judgement and willingness to ask the IPC team.

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