Burns services present some of the most challenging scenarios for IPC teams. Burns patients constitute a unique patient group with respect to infection. The new 2025 guidance, the result of many years of collaboration and perseverance, brings together the expertise and perspectives of a multidisciplinary group including burns clinicians, research scientists, IPC professionals and a patient representative. It includes a systematic literature review, best practice recommendations and a robust framework to inform future research.

Key areas addressed include:

• Building design and layout: Guidance on the importance of segregation of burns services from other clinical services to prevent the spread of infection.
• Specialised ventilation: A re-evaluation of ventilation requirements in burns theatres, proposing new approaches to contain micro-organisms and to reduce patient harm.
• Water quality: Highlighting water safety as a critical factor in burns services and offering practical recommendations for reducing risks to improve patient safety.