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eBulletin December 2003 Edition 7 |
In this Edition:
Reminders:
Surveillance Plans: All Type I hospital surveillance plans are due for 2004. A copy
of the 2004 surveillance plan form can be obtained from:
Type 1 Surveillance Manual and Forms
User Group Meeting: The last meeting for this year was held in September. The next planned meeting will be held
in March 2004 at a date yet to be finalised.
! Surveillance Data Forms: Please check that you are
using the current version of each surveillance form. From time to time VICNISS
receives data on old versions of forms which are not consistent with the VICNISS required fields. Revised forms effective
28-07-2003 are available from:
Type 1 Surveillance Manual and Forms
Software Update
Firstly we extend our gratitude to all participants for their patience regarding the difficulties endured with software.
The good news is that there is a solution on the horizon. By the time the next bulletin is released, we would hope to
have new software development underway. We will ensure progress on this issue is posted on the website www.vicniss.org.au.
Once development commences, we will be asking a small number (4-6) of Infection Control Consultants to form a focus group
to meet several times during the development process. The objective of the focus group will be to provide comment on
the user friendliness, functionality and appearance of the software. If you would like to be involved in the focus group,
please contact Phil Russo via email. It is anticipated the focus group will commence late February early March 2004.
Surveillance of Procedures where there are Implantables
Just a reminder that when doing surgical site surveillance, any patient who had an operation requiring an implant who
develops an infection in the 12 months following the surgery should be notified to VICNISS on the appropriate form. Even
if surveillance was only carried out on the procedure for 3 months, any readmission for infection within 12 months of
surgery should be documented for those patients who were included in the surveillance period.
Patients with implants will include CAGS and some cardiac surgery patients, hip and knee replacements, and some neurosurgical
patients. We understand that in most cases these infections will only be detected if they require readmission to hospital,
however at this stage VICNISS methodology does not currently include post discharge surveillance.
Type 1 Satisfaction Survey 2004
As part of our quality process we will be asking all participating hospitals to respond to a Satisfaction Survey in the New Year.
The survey is designed to be completed by staff involved in the VICNISS surveillance activities, and will include sections
on communication, reports, surveillance manual, VICNISS website, Infection Control resources required for surveillance and
also a open feedback section. All participants will be able to choose to remain anonymous. Results from the satisfaction
survey will be made available on the VICNISS website and presented at the VICNISS Advisory Committee and will be utilised to
review our own performance and assist in planning future activities.
Type 1 Reports
We are close to finishing the 3rd Quarter reports for posting on our website prior to Xmas. All participants will be notified
by email as soon as they are posted. For hospitals undertaking CABG, total hip and total knee replacement surveillance, a
new report will be included. The new report details data by the month and also provides quarterly infection rates with
confidence intervals. The intent of this report is to allow for comparison by quarter. The new report will be accompanied
by a detailed explanation and your feedback will be sought with a view to providing the same type of report for other
procedures and ICU/NICU data.
Type 1 2004 Site Visits
Noleen and Claire will be contacting all participating VICNISS Type I hospitals shortly to arrange a time to visit in the
New Year. This will provide an opportunity to discuss 2004 surveillance plans, targeted procedures, and ICU surveillance.
Please start considering some of the issues you would like to discuss with your primary consultant and a time that will
suit the Infection Control Consultant/Team
Type 1 Manual Update/Call for Feedback
The next version of the VICNISS Type I hospital manual is due out in February 2004. The new manual has changed significantly,
particularly in the ICU section. In the last satisfaction survey your feedback was sought regarding the manual and we
have attempted to incorporate some of the suggestions for improvement. If you would like to offer further feedback on
content, ease of navigation and usability of manual please contact Claire via email.
Type 2 Surveillance Update
During November, the Barwon South West rural health region commenced a 3 month Pilot Stage. It is anticipated that the
other smaller hospitals (mostly from the other 4 rural health regions) will commence either April or May2004. Workshops
for all the eligible hospital Infection Control consultants are currently being organised.
Type 2 Interactive Education Modules
Earlier this year, VICNISS successfully applied for and was awarded a development grant from Telematics Course Development
Trust fund. The Trust supports initiatives that promote the application of technology to innovative and market oriented education.
The project to be undertaken will be for Regional Hospitals at this stage and is titled 'Development of a self directed
interactive web based education package to support Infection Control Professionals, particularly those based in activities
to reduce hospital acquired infections'. The grant has been used to employ an Information Technology service to develop
an education course management system that will initially be trialled as part of the pilot program for smaller rural
hospitals. The project will be completed in 2004.
Infection Control Literature Review, December 2003
This months
literature review, compiled by Dr Deb Friedman, VICNISS ID physician discusses current research on the following selected topics:
- Bacterial Colonisation of Stethoscopes
- Bacterial Contamination Associated with Paper-Towel Dispensing
- Infection Control Programs Can Reduce Bloodstream Infection (BSI) Rates
Statistician Joins the Team
The VICNISS Coordinating Centre welcomes the assistance of Dr. Lyle Gurrin, Senior Lecturer, Epidemiology & Statistics
Unit, Melbourne University School of Population Health. Lyle will be providing statistical support for all VICNISS reports.
New Chair of Advisory Committee
We welcome the appointment of Mr. Felix Pintado, CEO of Latrobe Regional Hospital, Gippsland, as the new Chair of the VICNISS
Advisory Committee (VAC). Felix replaces Dr. David Hillis who was recently appointed Executive General Manager of the
College of Surgeons. We would like to thank David for his contribution as Chair of VAC and wish him well in his new appointment.
Xmas 2003
Another year has flown by - the older we get the quicker they go!! All of us at the VICNISS Coordinating Centre wish
you all a Merry Xmas and prosperous and safe New Year. We wish to thank you all for your excellent surveillance work
and ongoing support of VICNISS.
Christmas comes early for Simon Burrell (IT Officer) who many of you have met, and his wife. Congratulations to Simon
and Rebecca who recently became proud parents of a baby boy! All are doing well.
Mike, Phil, Ann, Claire, Simon, Jane, Deb, Noleen and Kylie
