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
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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