Welcome to the VICNISS Hospital Acquired 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 hospital acquired (nosocomial) infections in acute care public hospitals in Victoria, and reports individual hospital
and aggregate data back to participants and the Department of Human Services. Surveillance activities are targeted to those
patients at highest risk of hospital acquired infections.
News
New Operations Director for the VICNISS Coordinating Centre
The Coordinating Centre is delighted to welcome Clinton Dunkley to the position of Operations Director. Clinton moved from his position as
Senior Program Advisor Infection Control in the Quality and Safety Branch, Victorian Department of Human Services and commenced at
the VICNISS Coordinating Centre on 22nd September. He brings considerable project management experience from his previous role, and enthusiasm to
contribute to the expanding activities of the VICNISS program.
2008-09 Statement of Priorities and Performance Framework
Statements of Priorities (SoPs) are the key accountability agreements between Health Services and the Minister for Health. The annual
agreement ensures delivery or substantial progress towards the key shared objectives of financial stability, improves access and waiting times,
and quality of service provision.
There are four Quality and Safety key performance indicators in the 2008-09 Statement of Priorities that may involve infection control
teams; Cleaning, Hand Hygiene, VICNISS data and VICNISS performance.
Key Performance Indicator 8: VICNISS performance has been included in the SoPs for 2008-09. This measurement is based around a hospitals
performance and outlier status for:
- Hip Arthroplasty;
- Knee Arthroplasty;
- Caesarean section;
- Coronary Artery Graft Surgery; and
- Adult Intensive Care Unit patients with central lines.
A copy of the 2008-09 Statement of Priorities and Performance Framework Business Rules can be found at:
www.health.vic.gov.au/hospital-performance/index.htm.
TYPE 1 & 2 SURVEILLANCE REPORTS (for participating hospitals only)
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
1, 2008/2009 (previously referred to Quarter 3 2008 - see note below) is Friday, 7th November 2008 for Type 1 hospitals
and Friday, 31st October 2008 for Type 2 hospitals. The
corresponding report is then due to be posted mid-December 2008.
From 1st July 2008 VICNISS quarterly and year to date (YTD) reports will reflect the financial year calendar. For example,
July/Aug/Sept 2008 will be referred to as Q1, 2008/2009. This will mean that reports will
look different to previous reports.
Type 1 Hospital Level Data Reports (for participating hospitals only)
October 2008: The Type 1 Hospital Level De-identified Data Report for Quarter 2, 2008 will not be available until later in the year. You will be
informed as soon as you can access these reports following the links below.
June 2008: The Type 1 Hospital Level De-identified Data Report for Quarter 1, 2008 is now available.
This report can be accessed using your hospital username and password on the
Type
1 Reports login page and for those few Type 2 participating hospitals, from the
Type
2 Reports login page.
VICPA/VICNISS Journal Club
A special end of year Christmas journal club session will be held in December. When available, the final details of the Journal Club
will be posted on both the VICNISS and VICPA websites:
| Time: | 8.00-10.00am |
| Venue: | The Melbourne Zoo (TBC) |
| Presenters: | TBA |
More information and registration brochure is available on the VICPA website: www.vicpa.org.au/Default.aspx?c=373&ct=3
Final details of venue and articles for review will be forwarded closer to the date but please contact
Judy Brett if you have any queries
in the interim.
Infection Control Literature Review, October 2008
Our most recent
literature review, for October, compiled by Dr Leon Worth, ID Physician,
discusses current research on the following selected topics:
- Hydrogen Peroxide Vapour for Clostridium difficile Environmental Decontamination
- Detection of MRSA and VRE on Gowns and Gloves of Healthcare Workers