Acute Care Infection Control Toolbox

The Infection Control Practitioner’s Toolbox is a set of themed links accessible from a single site which aims to help the Healthcare Worker access relevant infection control information quickly.

The information is compartmentalised for easy access.

To search for a topic press the 'Ctrl-F' (find) function
Antimicrobial Stewardship Aseptic Technique Building, Renovation & EngineeringCleaning COVID-19Education Hand HygieneImmunisation Infection Control Standards and ​Guidelines Infectious Diseases Resources Legionella Multi-resistant Organisms Occupational Exposures Outbreak Reprocessing reusable medical devices RuralStandard and Transmission Based PrecautionsWaste and the Environment

 

 

ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP

NSQHS Standards: Action 3.18 & 3.19
The Health Service organisation implements systems for the safe and appropriate prescribing and use of antimicrobials as part of an antimicrobial stewardship program

AURA — Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in Australia is a surveillance system to support strategies to prevent and contain antimicrobial resistanc

National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship (NCAS) is using a ‘One Health’ approach in tackling antimicrobial resistance.  Antimicrobial resistance is seen as an ecologic problem that includes strategies that cover food production, veterinary prescribing, community general practice and hospital prescribing.

National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey (NAPS) is a national survey which has been in use since 2011.  It helps health services to assess their antimicrobial prescribing practises and provides valuable information on the utilisation of antimicrobials within Australia.

Specific modules include:

  • Hospital NAPS
  • Aged Care NAPS
  • Surgical NAPS
  • QI NAPS (complementary to Hospital NAPS)
Therapeutic Guidelines: Antibiotics is an evidence based guide to appropriate antimicrobial prescribing.  This is available to Victorian health service clinicians via the Clinicians Health Channel

The Commission and NPS MedicineWise have developed a series of e-learning modules on antimicrobial prescribing.

The modules are aimed at prescribers in their first 2 years out of medical school, as well as nurse practitioners, hospital pharmacists and university students. The modules address specific areas where antimicrobial use in hospitals is suboptimal.


VICNISS/NCAS Fact Sheets for clinicians on Topical antifungals:

 

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ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE

NSQHS Standards: Action 3.11
The health service organisation has processes for aseptic technique that:
a) Identify the procedures where aseptic technique applies
b) Assess the competence of the workforce in performing aseptic technique
c) Provide training to address gaps in competency
d) Monitor compliance with the organisation’s policies on aseptic technique


Victoria

The Victorian Department of Health is making this aseptic technique learning module freely available for health services to use and adapt to meet the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.

National

Aseptic technique risk matrix provides a score for the following factors

  • Clinical context
  • The treatment type
  • Assessment of skills of clinical workforce

Australasian College for Infection Prevention & Control (ACIPC)

Has a large number of resources to assist ICPs in developing an aseptic technique program such as an action plan, assessment, workbooks and education. 

International

ANTT® (Aseptic Non Touch Technique) program was developed in the UK.  It uses a standardised approach to aseptic practice.  It has become the de facto national standard aseptic technique in both the UK and Australia and continues to expand internationally.   

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BUILDING, RENOVATION & ENGINEERING

NSQHS Standards: Action 3.14
The health service organisation has processes to evaluate and respond to infection risks for maintaining, repairing and upgrading buildings, equipment, furnishings and fittings 

 The role of Infection Control teams in any construction work within the health care facility is as follows:

1. Involved in planning phases as part of a multidiscipline team
2. Risk assessment
a. Patient profile
b. Construction activity type
c. Recommended interventions
3. Environmental monitoring and compliance auditing
4. End of work—fit for use assessment

Construction practices may impact on patient wellbeing by disseminating bacteria and filamentous fungi causing hospital acquired infections.

Victorian Department of Health (DH) document Infection Control Principles for the Management of Construction, Renovation, Repairs and Maintenance within HealthCare Facilities is a practical manual for reducing the risk of health care associated infection by dust and water borne micro-organisms. 

Employing risk management principles

  • identify the at risk population,
  • identify the location of the at risk population in relation to the construction,
  • know the transmission route of a likely pathogen, and then
  • mitigate the risk in the planning stages.
The Maintenance standards for critical areas in Victorian health facilities provides a set of general and additional maintenance standards including infrastructure maintenance, maintenance for infection prevention and control and schedules, auditing and reporting.

Aims & Objectives:
      • Standardisation and formalisation of the minimum requirements of maintenance of building services such as air conditioning, ventilation systems and medical gases. High risk areas include, but not limited to, operating rooms, negative pressure rooms, and intensive care environments.
      • Articulate lines of responsibility for health facility maintenance departments
      • Enhance reporting of compliance and validation
      • Increase health facility maintenance departments’ contribution to quality improvement processes

South Australian Department of Health has provided a similar toolkit: - Infection prevention and control during construction and renovation (2018)

The Australasian Health Facility Guidelines (AusHFG) have been made freely available. The 6 chapters are:

AusHFG Parts

    • Building elements such as approaches to hand basins and isolation rooms
    • The physical environment describing elements such as air handling etc.
    • Surfaces and finishes
    • Considerations relating to construction and renovation of healthcare facilities to minimise risk of infection.
  • Part E: Building Services & Environmental Design
  • Part F: Project Implementation

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CATHETER ASSOCIATED URINARY TRACT INFECTION (CAUTI)

NSQHS Standards: Action 3.12
The health service organisation has processes for the appropriate use and management of invasive medical devices that are consistent with the current edition of the Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare
NSQHS Standards: Action 3.11
The health service organisation has processes for aseptic technique: identifying where aseptic technique applies, assessing the workforce and providing training
This section provides support material for catheter care for the prevention of CAUTI.
CAUTI is one of the most preventable of hospital acquired infections.
In July 2023 VICNISS will have a CAUTI surveillance tool as a voluntary module.

Clinical Excellence Commission (NSW)
  • Minimise risk by ensuring clinicians are aware of the appropriate and inappropriate indications for indwelling catheterisation with the use of Decision Support Tools
  • Educate and assess that Healthcare workers are competent in catheter insertion
  • Maintenance and care:
    • While a catheter is in place any breaches in asepsis or a break in the closed system may result in microorganisms entering the catheter and ascending into the bladder. The treating team should ensure routine review of the catheter once it is in situ to ensure that the integrity of the system remains uncompromised.
      • Urine specimen decision support tools
      • Awareness posters:
        • Be an example when you sample
        • This is not a sign of infected urine
  • Catheter removal:
    • Sometimes, urinary catheters are left in situ unnecessarily after the indication for catheterisation has resolved. This puts the patient at a heightened risk of acquiring a urinary tract infection. Clinicians should continually review the need for catheterisation and initiate catheter removal as soon as the catheter is deemed no longer necessary.
      • Includes information on criteria-initiated catheter removal
      • Awareness posters:
        • Pull the pin on catheters staying in
        • Remove the catheter, remove the risk
        • If there is no doubt when a catheter needs to come out

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Healthcare workers can use these CAUTI tools to make care safer by following clinical best practices and creating a culture of safety.
• Implementation tools
• Resources

CLEANING

NSQHS Standards: Action 3.01, 3.06, 3.08, 3.09
Clinicians asses infection risks and use transmission based precautions on the risks of transmission of infectious agents, and consider the need for additional environmental cleaning or disinfection
NSQHS Standards: Action 3.11
The health service has processes to maintain a clean and hygienic environment in accordance with Australian Guidelines for the prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare and jurisdictional requirements

 Cleaning standards for Victorian health facilities aim to improve the quality of healthcare provision by ensuring risks are identified and managed.

Auditing cleanliness

  1. Environmental cleanliness will be measured through accreditation to the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards and patient-reported cleanliness through the Victorian healthcare experience survey.
  2. Health facilities may adopt alternative auditing methods, in addition to, or in the place of visual inspections
    1. ATP bioluminescence testing (adenosine triphosphate) are commercial systems designed to test for residual organic matter on the surface after cleaning
    2. Fluorescent markers to high touch surfaces. Ultraviolet light is used after cleaning to assess the quality of the clean
    3. Microbiological testing of environmental areas may be valuable in outbreak settings
  3. Health facilities will be able to utilise internal or external auditors, for auditing of environmental cleanliness.
  4. Areas are weighted according to risk

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COVID-19

NSQHS Standards: Action 3.08
Policies governing outbreaks or unusual clusters of infection or communicable diseases
Implementation of Transmission Based Precautions and environment cleaning

NSQHS Standards: Action 3.13
The health service has processes to maintain a clean and hygienic environment in accordance with Australian Guidelines for the preventions and Control of Infection in Healthcare and jurisdictional requirements

COVID-19 Treatment

VICTORIA
Victorian Department of Health: 

Antivirals and other medicines available for eligible people to treat and prevent COVID-19

Advice for healthcare workers on medications for patients with COVID-19

 

AUSTRALIA
Commonwealth Government: Department of Health and Aged Care

Eligibility for oral COVID-19 treatments

 

OTHER NATIONAL GROUPS

NPS MedicineWise:  Changes to COVID-19 oral antiviral PBS eligibility criteria-July 2022

RACGP:  What GPs need to know about the new COVID antivirals

 

Infection Prevention and Control information

Victorian DH Infection Prevention and Control Resources (COVID)

The resources include the following:
COVID-19 Infection control guidelines

Other Information


Victoria

      • Corona virus hotline: --- 1800 675 398 (converts to National Coronavirus Helpline between 6PM and 8am)
      • Notification of confirmed cases phone 1300 651 160
      • Information for health services, general practices and aged care. The documents in this link are being regularly updated.  If you are using a printed version you will need to check it is the latest.
      • Victorian Aged Care Sector
        • Guideline
        • Resources: End of life messaging, advanced care planning & CARE Plan for suspected/confirmed case
      • Information and advice for the public

National




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EDUCATION

NSQHS Standards: Action 1.20
The health service uses its training systems to assess the needs and competency of its workforce and to monitor the workforce's involvement in training
NSQHS Standards: Action 1.27
The health service organisation has processes that support clinicians to use the best available evidence, including relevant clinical care standards developed by the ACSQHC

Infection Prevention and Control Post Graduate Courses:

Griffith University:

  • Graduate Certificate in Infection Prevention and Control
  • Master of Infection Prevention and Control

James Cook University:

  • Graduate Certificate of Infection Control

University of Adelaide

  • Graduate Certificate in Nursing Science (Infection Control)

 
Short Courses

Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care: Infection Control Training Portal

  • The Commission’s Infection Prevention and Control learning modules (modules 1 -10) are available on the same platform as the National Hand Hygiene Initiative Learning Management System (NHHI LMS).
  •  To access the modules, you will need to log into the NHHI LMS using your current login details, or register as a new user.
  • 10 online modules each equal to 1 CPD point. Each module may be completed in order of preference by the registered user. Certificate of completion is available at the end of each module

VICNISS offers a range of educational webinars annually. To registered users, modules are available on each surveillance module.

The Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC) is the peak body for Infection Prevention and Control in the Australasian region.  It offers a wide range of professional development opportunities for members and non-members:

  • Annual Conference
  • Foundations of Infection Prevention and Control Course
  • Educational Workshops
  • Member only—webinars
  • Peer support
  • HIV and Hepatitis Pre and Post Testing Discussion course
  • Aged Care Masterclass
  • Online Short Course-Aged Care Settings
Tasmanian Infection Prevention and Control Unit (TIPCU):   eLearning Infection, Prevention and Control Series

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HAND HYGIENE

NSQHS Standards: Action 3.10
The health service organisation has a hand hygiene program that:
a) Is consistent with the current National Hand Hygiene Initiative and Jurisdictional requirements
b) Addresses noncompliance or inconsistency with the current National Hand Hygiene Initiative

National Hand Hygiene Initiative
Hand Hygiene Compliance Application (HHCApp)
NHHI helpdesk Information
Hand Hygiene Resources

Hand hygiene online learning modules

 Register/Login go to “Catalogue →Hand Hygiene Modules”



 Hand Hygiene eLearning Modules

    • Hand Hygiene modules for a wide range of healthcare workers
      • Standard Theory
      • Nursing/Midwifery
      • Medical
      • Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
      • Allied Health
      • Renal dialysis
      • Dental
      • Non-clinical
      • Student
    • Hand Hygiene Auditor Modules
      • Pre-workshop
      • Annual Auditor Validation
    • Other—Hand dermatitis
      • Aged Care Modules

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IMMUNISATION 

NSQHS Standards: Action 3.15
The health service organisation has a risk based workforce immunisation program that:
a) Is consistent with the current edition of the Australian Immunisation Handbook
b) Is consistent with jurisdictional requirements for vaccine-preventable diseases
c) Addresses specific risks to the workforce and patients

Resources

  • The Australian Immunisation Handbook provides clinical advice for health professionals on the safest and most effective use of vaccines in their practice.
  • The Melbourne Vaccination Education Centre (MVEC) is an online initiative which provides up-to-date immunisation information for healthcare professionals and the public. It is based at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and is affiliated with SAEFVIC.

Focusing on Healthcare Workers

Healthcare workers may be exposed to, and transmit, vaccine-preventable diseases such as influenza, measles, rubella and pertussis. Maintaining immunity in the healthcare worker population helps prevent transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases to and from healthcare workers and patients.

NSQHS Standards Workforce immunisation risk matrix may be used to calculate the risk response for the organisation’s workforce. This information can be used to prioritise action.

Adverse events related to vaccinations are rare but may be life threatening

Adverse Events Following Immunisation-All immunisation providers should report any unexpected, serious or unusual adverse events following immunisation to their local surveillance body.

The adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) reporting portal used by immunisers to report individuals who may have had a serious or unexpected adverse event following immunisation. The service is twofold.

1.  Reported individuals are expertly reviewed and follow up by a specialist doctor maybe arranged

2.  By getting as much information about AEFI, problems with vaccines or systems are detected as early as possible if they do occur.

Victorian reporting Services:

Cold chain

Cold chain; breaches can affect the potency of the vaccine.  There are clear processes to be followed for vaccine safety including delivery, storage and back up plans in the event of power outages. All immunisation providers should ensure effective cold chain management of vaccines in line with the National vaccine storage guidelines: Strive for 5

What to know


Becoming an immuniser

In Victoria, Nurse immunisers may administer specified vaccines and can manage adverse reactions where there may not be a medical practitioner present. Nurse immunisers are approved under regulation 8(1) and regulation 161 of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances regulations 2017
• Nurse Immuniser courses
Pharmacist immunisers must have completed a recognised course and administer vaccines to specific client groups in approved locations such as community pharmacies as part of the Victorian Pharmacist-Administered Vaccination Program.
• Pharmacist Immuniser courses

Immunisation Nurses Special Interest Group (INSIG)

INSIG is a professional body of the Australian Nursing Midwifery Federation (ANMF Vic Branch) to support Nurses working in Immunisation Practice.

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 INFECTION CONTROL STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES

NSQHS Standards: Action 1.27
The health service organisation has processes that provide clinicians with ready access to best-practice guidelines and decision support tools

Victoria

Click her for Victorian Infection Control Guidelines

National

Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare 2019

National STANDARDS

NSQHS Standards

These eight standards have been developed to drive the implementation of safety and quality systems and improve the quality of health care in Australia.

Standard 3 focuses on Preventing and Controlling Healthcare-associated infection and is aligned with Standard 1 (Clinical Governance) & Standard 2 (Partnering with consumers).

Tools to assist:

Resources for NSQHS Standard – second edition. Includes a vast array of support material including workbooks, risk matrices and monitoring tools plus more.

ACSQHC email updates

On the Radar: A summary of some of the recent publications in the area of safety and quality in health care.

Commission eNews: A quarterly eNewsletter features recent highlights from the Commission's work, as well as newly-released resources.

Subscription to regular emails is the easiest way to access this information

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 INFECTIOUS DISEASES RESOURCES 

NSQHS Standards: Action 3.08
Clinicians assess infection risks and use transmission-based precautions based on the risk of transmission of infectious agents, and consider whether a patient has a communicable disease, or an existing or pre-existing colonisation or infection with organisms of local or national significance.
Clinicians are able to accommodate needs to manage infection risks, control the environment and establish processes for transferring the patient within the health service or to an external service.

A-Z of infectious Diseases, once known as the ‘Blue Book' provides detailed information about common and rare diseases that pose public health concerns. Information included are notification requirements, school and childcare exclusion, identification of symptoms, incubation periods, and modes of transmission and control measures. The aim is to assist public health practitioners in the prevention and control of infectious diseases.

For public health safety, prescribed conditions must be notified to the Department of Health.  Notifiable conditions were once grouped into 4 groups (A, B, C & D).  The groupings have now been simplified as “Urgent” or “Routine”.  Notification procedures for infectious diseases clearly outline who is required to notify, what is to be notified and the timeline notification must occur.

Infectious disease surveillance in Victoria provides daily reports for notifiable diseases, and seasonal influenza reports

Information for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) in the Health Translations Directory has been produced by the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health.  This group is regularly reviewing the collection

Therapeutic Guidelines: Antibiotics is an evidence base guide to appropriate antimicrobial prescribing.  Available to Victorian Health Services via the Clinicians Health Channel

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LEGIONELLA

NSQHS Standards: Action 3.05
Surveillance activities that include:
a) collection and reporting of data
b) monitoring and management of risks
c) Improvement strategies
NSQHS Standards: Action 3.08
Risk of transmission of infectious agents:
Maintenance or service history to identify appropriate monitoring of air-handling systems and water supply systems

Legionnaires’ disease is an urgent notifiable disease.
Pneumonia is the most commonly described manifestation of Legionella infection and is termed Legionnaires’ disease.  Legionella can also cause a self-limiting acute febrile illness termed Pontiac fever. Infection by Legionella occurs following inhalation or aspiration of aerosol droplets containing Legionella bacteria or host organisms infected with Legionella bacteria.

Australian Government: Guidelines for Legionella Control, operation and maintenance of water distribution systems in health and aged care.
Victorian Department of Health: 

  • Legionella
  • Guidelines for legionella control in health and aged care facilities

Cooling Tower systems: Information on statutory obligations

Cooling towers are designed to remove heat, temporarily store water that is then recirculated.  The water is sprayed or dripped into a large chamber which is then cooled by a thermostatically controlled fan. Potentially Legionella-contaminated droplets may be generated by the cooling tower systems and inhaled by susceptible people.

 

Infection control risks with medical devices that have built in reservoirs

There is a specific risk that heater-cooler devices used in Cardiac Surgery may be contaminated with Mycobacterium chimaera (M. chimaera), and that exposure of patients to the aerosolised exhaust from these devices may cause infection.

M.Chimaera infections may not be clinically apparent for several years after exposure.

Non-tuberculous Mycobacterium infections associated with heater cooler devices

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MULTI-RESISTANT ORGANISMS 

NSQHS Standards: Action 3.05
Surveillance activities that include:
a) collection and reporting of data
b) monitoring and management of risks
c) improvement strategies
NSQHS Standards: Action 3.18
Antimicrobial Stewardship program:
a) provides access to evidence based information
b) monitors antimicrobial prescribing relevant to the clinical setting


Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia in Australian hospitals 2016-17 (SABs) reports on hospital associated infection (sensitive and resistant strains).  SAB is an indicator of the safety and quality of hospital care. 

Australian Government: Australia’s National Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy—2020 and Beyond

Australian Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (AGAR)  -  A collaboration of clinicians and scientists from key microbiology laboratories around Australia that conduct targeted surveillance of selected pathogens and collect demographic, treatment and outcome data, and data on antimicrobial resistance rates. AGAR is an important core component of the Antimicrobial Use and Resistance Surveillance System (AURA).
Australian Society for Antimicrobials coordinates AGAR to collect, analyse and report on data submitted by participating laboratories for the following three programs

  • Staphylococcus aureus (ASSOP – Australian Staphylococcal Sepsis Outcome Program)
  • Enterococcus spp. (AESOP – Australian Enterococcal Sepsis Outcome Program)
  • Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp. (GNSOP – Gram negative Sepsis Outcome Program)

State Government

MRO

Patient-centred risk management strategy for multi-resistant organisms provides a framework to assist clinicians in determining how to care for an individual with an MRO within their clinical setting.

MRSA

Staphylococcal infections

Staphylococcus aureus – golden staph

What is MRSA brochure has been translated into 13 languages

CPE

The Victorian guideline on Carbapenamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) for health services supersedes this risk management strategy and must be followed for all CPE cases.

Candida auris

C.auris is an emerging treatment resistant fungal infection of serious public health implications. Confirmed or probable cases (invasive infection or colonisation) are to be notified by the treating clinician, by telephone, to the Department of Health via 1300 651 160. Additionally it is requested that all isolates of confirmed C. auris are forwarded to the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory for further confirmatory and susceptibility testing. Guidelines for the management of Candida auris will soon be available following wide consultation within the health sector.


National Guidelines for MROs & other significant organisms

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 OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURES

NSQHS Standards: Action 3.01
The workforce uses the safety and quality systems from the Clinical Governance Standard when implementing policies….for safe work practices

Health Services should have procedures for managing exposures to blood or body fluids.  Resources to aid development of the procedure may be found at the Department of Health: Managing exposures to blood and body fluids or substances

Consenting for Blood borne virus testing

Legislation change re HIV testing

The legislation, passed in Victoria 2019 (Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008) will mean that Victorians can access HIV testing just by visiting their local health clinic, GP or pathology service, the same way they access blood tests for other blood borne viruses.

Consent for blood borne virus testing may be done by:

  • Medical officers
  • Nurses who have completed pre and post-test counselling course (see below) OR, as defined by their scope of practice and endorsed by the hospital executive or relevant authority.

Pre and Post-test counselling courses

  • Australian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC): HIV and Hepatitis Pre & Post Testing Discussion Course
  • The HIV and Hepatitis Pre and Post Testing Discussion Course was previously delivered by the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS) at the La Trobe University. This course is suitable for healthcare practitioners involved in undertaking HIV and Hepatitis testing in all healthcare settings including midwifery, acute care, community health, women’s health, correctional health, rural and remote health, refugee health, sexual health, and infection prevention and control practitioners. It is a 6 week, online course with two courses per year
  • The Albion Centre:
    • Course Calendar includes the following:
      • Management of exposures to blood borne pathogens:
      • A six-week interactive, facilitated online course providing on the management of needle-stick and other exposures to bloodborne pathogens, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV.
      • HIV and Hepatitis C Testing: Informed consent and giving results
      • A 5 week interactive, facilitated online course providing information on current guidelines and best clinical practice for health workers managing clients who present for HIV and/or hepatitis C testing.

References & Training Links

Conveying blood borne virus results guidelines

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OUTBREAK 

NSQHS Standards: Action 3.01 Policies governing outbreaks or unusual clusters of infection or communicable diseases
NSQHS Standards: Action 3.05 Surveillance strategy to identify possible cases
NSQHS Standards: Action 3.05 Transmission Based Precautions to reduce the risk of infection to patients, the workforce and visitors
NSQHS Standards: Action 3.08 Implementation of transmission based precaution, including accommodation requirements, environmental cleaning
NSQHS Standards: Action 3.09 Communication processes of infectious status, as required, to other health services and/or government bodies

Gastrointestinal diseases

The guideline includes best practice infection control recommendations and detailed information for the investigation of sporadic cases of gastroenteritis and food or water borne outbreak investigations tailored for different clinical settings such as hospitals, aged care and children’s service centres. Each module contains documents to support cleaning practices, hand hygiene, signage, outbreak case lists and the notification process.

National: The Gastro-Info Gastroenteritis Kit, published by the Australian Government, is a resource to assist residential aged care facilities in the event of a gastroenteritis outbreak.


Pandemics influenza

Pandemic Influenza (Victoria)

The Victorian action plan for pandemic influenza sets out Victoria’s approach for reducing the social and economic impacts and consequences of a pandemic influenza on communities.

Every Victorian Government department and agency (including emergency management agencies) must have a plan in place to address the possible impacts and consequences of pandemic influenza on their organisations, and their responsibilities to communities.The Victorian action plan for pandemic influenza provides guidance to help organisations to complete or review their pandemic influenza plans.

Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza (AHMPPI) outlines Australia’s strategy to manage an influenza pandemic and minimise its impact on the health of Australians and our health system.

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REPROCESSING REUSABLE MEDICAL DEVICES 

NSQHS Standards: Action 3.17
Reprocessing of reusable equipment, instruments and devices is consistent with relevant current national standards, and meets current best practice.
Processes include traceability of critical and semi-critical equipment

Cleaning, disinfecting and sterilising re-usable medical devices and equipment is essential foundation for delivering safe and good-quality care.

The Australian Standard and New Zealand Standard (AS/NZS) 4187:2014, Reprocessing of reusable medical devices in health service organisations is available by subscription 

Therapeutic Goods administration

Other Jurisdictions

ASUM/ACIPC (Australian Society for Ultrasound Medicine/Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control) joint guidelines for the cleaning, Disinfection, and Reprocessing of Ultrasound Transducers

Ultrasound Infection Prevention Toolkit is a resource regarding infection prevention during the use and reprocessing of ultrasound probes in Australia

SRACA (Sterilising Research and Advisory Council of Australia (Victoria) Inc.) is the professional body of sterilising technology practitioners.

Flexible Endoscopes

GENCA (Gastroenterological Nurses College of Australia) is the peak professional body that sets the gold standard for gastroenterological nursing.  The mission of GENCA is to develop and promote excellence in gastroenterology nursing practice

GESA (Gastroenterological Society of Australia) is the peak membership organisation for health care professionals and researchers working in the fields of gastroenterology and hepatology. GESA’s Infection Control position statements is available here

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RURAL

NSQHS Standards: Standard 1
Governance, leadership and culture

 Victoria public health has many rural & regional health services

  • 5 rural health regions with 70 rural and regional public health services and hospitals
  • 5 bush nursing hospitals and 15 bush nursing centres

Private health sector is represented by 15 services of which 7 are independent or community based and 8 are from a network.

Rural Infection Control Practice Group (RICPRAC) is an informal and voluntary group of regional Infection Control Practitioners (ICP) offering peer support to public health services within clearly defined regions.  Each region operates under a different model.

  • Grampians Region web page includes information on wound management and infection control (push ‘Advanced’ to proceed)

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STANDARD AND TRANSMISSION BASED PRECAUTIONS


NSQHS Standards: Action 3.01 Uses safety and quality systemsManages risk associated with healthcare associated infections
NSQHS Standards: Action 3.06 Application of standard and transmission-based precautions consistent with the current edition of the Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare and jurisdictional requirements
NSQHS Standards: Action 3.08 Clinicians assess infection risk and use transmission based precautions based on the risk of transmission of infectious agents

Standard precautions are the minimum infection prevention and control practices that must be used at all times for all patients.

Transmission-based precautions (TBP) are used, in addition to standard precautions with standard precautions alone may be insufficient to prevent transmission of infection. TBPs are used for patients known or suspected to be infected or colonised with epidemiologically important or highly transmissible pathogens that can transmit or cause infection.

The type of TBPs applied is based upon the mode of transmission of the pathogen. For diseases that have multiple routes of transmission, more than one TBP category is applied.

More information is available from the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare:  

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WASTE AND THE ENVIRONMENT 

NSQHS Standards: Action 3.01
Uses safety and quality systems
Manages risk associated with healthcare associated infections
NSQHS Standards: Action 3.06
Application of standard and transmission-based precautions consistent with the current edition of the Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare and jurisdictional requirements


Waste streams

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA Victoria) regulates the storage, transport, treatment and disposal of clinical and related wastes in Victoria under the Environment Protection (Industrial Waste Resource) Regulations 2009.

EPA Victoria Publication: Clinical and Related Waste – Operational Guidance

Waste streams are regulated: Clinical (for incineration and non-incineration), Cytotoxic, Radioactive, Confidential, Recyclable, and General.

The Clinical and related waste guidance – Supplement for healthcare staff has been developed to provide specific guidance to Victorian hospitals and health services on managing clinical and related wastes. The supplement is a user-friendly guide, providing a simple and practical decision-making process to help health service staff identify whether items are clinical waste, landfill waste or recyclable

Other Victorian Department of Health links:

Environment

The Victorian Department of Health is committed to improving sustainability within the health system infrastructure. 

This is documented in the department’s strategic plan—Environmental sustainability strategy 2018-19 to 2022-23. 

Supporting tools include an action plan and progress report. These tools are in ‘word’ format for the internal use of the individual health service to map actions and progress.

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