VICNISS Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance Coordinating Centre
Home / NewsConsumer / Patient InformationHealthcare Worker and Participating Hospital Sites Information and ResourcesContact Us
Print page Print  

Welcome to the VICNISS Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance System

The primary aim of VICNISS is to lower the number of infections acquired in Victorian hospitals. Established in 2002, the program is coordinated by the VICNISS Coordinating Centre, which collects and analyses data on healthcare associated infections (HAI) in acute care public hospitals in Victoria, and reports individual hospital and aggregate data back to participants and the Department of Health. Surveillance activities are targeted to those patients at highest risk of healthcare associated infections.

Quick Links

Participating Hospital Surveillance Reports
Access to reports for participating hospitals only.
eBulletin
Access most recent eBulletin distributed in February as well as previous editions.
Infection Control Literature Reviews
Access the most recent Literature Review from February as well as previous reviews.
Key Dates for Data and Reports
VICNISS Key Dates regarding Type 1 and Type 2 data collection, submission, analysis and reports posting.
VICNISS Annual Report - Most recent 2009-10 VICNISS Annual Reports
Most recent report - 2009-10.
View and download PDFs.

TYPE 1 & 2 SURVEILLANCE REPORTS (for participating hospitals only)

March 2012: Quarter 2, 2011/2012 Type 1 and Type 2 quarterly reports, including Outpatient Haemodialysis reports, the SAB agency reports, and the Type 1 & Type 2 Hospital Level De-identified Data Reports are now available.

These reports can be accessed using your hospital username and password.

An explanatory document regarding these reports is available on your Reports page. If you have any further questions after reading this document, or any problems accessing your hospital reports please contact the Coordinating Centre.

The deadline for data to be forwarded to the VICNISS Coordinating Centre for Quarter 3, 2011/2012 is Friday, 4th May 2012 for Type 1 hospitals and Friday, 27th April 2012 for Type 2 hospitals. The corresponding report is then due to be posted on 15th June 2012.

November 2011: Influenza Vaccination Reports for 2011 for Type 1 and Type 2 participating hospitals are now available.

Back to Top


Staff Influenza Vaccination Program 2012

Hard copy data collection, consent forms for 2012 and module Protocol and for Completion of the Staff Influenza Vaccination Web Form are now available for both Type 1 and Type 2 participants. The updated online data entry web form for Influenza Immunisation is also available. Changes have been made to the Staff Influenza Vaccination module. For example, Please note, as of this year specific data is to be collected about Intensive Care Unit staff. For this reason, staff who are responsible for collecting and submitting the required data are strongly encouraged to read the Protocol and Instructions for Completion of the Staff Influenza Vaccination Web Form prior to commencing their 2012 program. Data is to be submitted to the VICNISS Coordinating Centre by 31st July 2012.

Back to Top


Report: VICNISS Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI) Master Class - August 2011

In response to recent public discussion and interest expressed from a number of ICPs and others experienced in CLABSI surveillance, VICNISS held a ‘CLABSI Master Class’ in August 2011. The aim of the Master Class was to provide attendees with an overview of CLABSI surveillance in Victoria, recent changes to NHSN surveillance, best practice in prevention of CLABSI, and application of surveillance definitions using case scenarios. For more information, please see the CLABSI Master Class Report (PDF 54kb) and the CLABSI Master Class Presentation (PowerPoint 2.5mb).

Back to Top


Reducing Surgical Site Infections in Colorectal Surgery Using Process Measures – Material Now Available on Website!

Two years ago a pilot project was carried out at Southern Health introducing process measures to reduce surgical site infections after colorectal surgery. As a result of this project materials have been prepared to assist other hospitals wishing to try and introduce these measures. The measures include ensuring sufficient oxygenation of patients during and post surgery, keeping patients warm prior to surgery and ensuring they are warmed up after surgery, correct administration of antibiotic prophylaxis and monitoring of blood sugar levels. This consists mainly of the evidence base for the measures and some information which may be helpful to anyone wanting to try them out. We have also produced some posters which can be used to publicise the project. The material is available on the VICNISS website Colorectal Bundle Project page. Anyone wanting more information on the project can contact Ann Bull, phone 93422638.

Back to Top


Hand Hygiene

VICNISS has a webpage containing Hand Hygiene information, including access to Victorian Aggregate Hand Hygiene Compliance Data and links to HHA resources: www.vicniss.org.au/HCW/HandHygiene.aspx.

Hand hygiene compliance data for Period 2 2012 is due by Friday 30th June 2012. Data cannot be entered into the Hand Hygiene Compliance Application (HHCApp) after this date so allow for unexpected circumstances and enter your data early.

Back to Top


Infection Control Literature Review, February 2012

Our most recent literature review, for February, compiled by Dr Leon Worth, ID Physician, discusses current research on the following selected topics:

  • Hospital Readmissions for Clostridium difficile: Impact upon Estimates of Disease Burden
  • Web-based Learning for Central Line-associated Bloodstream Infection Prevention

Back to Top

Department of Health, Victoria