eBulletin August 2005 Edition 16
In this Edition:
Reminders:
! Type 2 Data Submission:
Quarter 1 Reports were released on 11th July 2005. Quarter 2 Reports are due to be released on 17th
September 2005. The deadline for data to be forwarded to the VICNISS Coordinating Centre for Quarter 3,
2005 is Friday, 28th Ocotber 2005. The corresponding report is then due to be
posted mid-December 2005.
! Type 1 Data Submission:
Quarter 1 Reports were released on 17th June 2005. Quarter 2 Reports are due to be released on 17th September
2005. The deadline for data to be forwarded to the VICNISS Coordinating Centre for Quarter 3, 2005
is Friday, 4th November 2005. The corresponding report is then due to be
posted mid-December 2005.
Key Dates 2005: For more information on deadlines and dates, please click here
(link no longer available) for Key Dates 2005.
VICNISS Hospital Acquired Infection Rates - An Update of VICNISS Evening and Annual Report 2004
On the 27th July 2005, the VICNISS Coordinating Centre held a presentation evening at the Le Meridien at Rialto,
where the VICNISS Annual Report was launched, and data was presented from Type 1 & 2 hospitals including
Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis data, and information about the Orthopaedic Costing Study.
The VICNISS Coordinating Centre would like to extend their thanks to all who attended for their support,
which included representation from infection control, infectious diseases, and management from both Type 1 and
2 hospitals (rural and metropolitan), representatives from the VICNISS Advisory Committee, the Department of
Human Services, the Victorian Advisory Committee on Infection Control, and the Health Issues Centre.
The Coordinating Centre would also like to take this opportunity to again thank all participants and key
stakeholders who support and contribute to the VICNISS program, particularly infection control staff.
The VICNISS Coordinating Centre are endeavouring to forward a copy of our Annual Report to all VICNISS participants
and stakeholders. An electronic copy of the report can also be read and downloaded
by clicking here. If you would like a hard copy of the report
(or additional copies) please contact us at the VICNISS Coordinating Centre: Phone: 03 9342 2605,
Email: vicniss @ mh.org.au
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and
Epidemiology (APIC) Conference 2005
Phil was fortunate to attend APIC's 32nd Annual Educational Conference and International Meeting in Baltimore
from the 20th June to 23rd June. VICNISS presented three posters at the conference. Abstracts of the posters will
be available on the VICNISS website in the near future.
As well as networking with colleagues and reviewing the latest in surveillance technology, Phil was able
to attend a number of sessions.
One of the major topics of the conference was that of Mandatory Reporting. Denise Graham APICs senior
Director of Government Affairs, and Tammy Lunsdtrom, from Detroit Medical Center-Wayne State University,
Detroit, with a medical and legal background, provided an overview of the situation in
the US. In the past 12 months, 39 US states have introduced legislation and six states passed laws
requiring disclosure of infection rates to the state health department and the public. Not only are
there State initiatives in respect to mandatory reporting, but there are also Federal initiatives.
Much of the impetus of mandatory reporting has been initiated by consumer groups. Arguments for mandatory reporting include the perception that it
will allow consumers to make informed decisions on their health care, improve the quality of care, create opportunities for hospitals to market themselves.
Opponents of mandatory reporting argue there is no evidence that it will lead to improved quality of care, and concerns were raised that hospitals may
only accept healthier patients. The APIC web site at www.apic.org has more information about this topical issue.
The State of the Science Lecture delivered by Elaine Larson from Columbia University School of Nursing reviewed the latest literature relating to
interventional studies in infection control. These included studies on new equipment or technologies, education, hand hygiene, surveillance and
performance feedback. The takeaway message from this lecture is that mostly, staff know what works when it comes to infection prevention, its just a
matter of getting people to do it. Larson encouraged infection control staff to take a 'No Excuses/no Tolerance" (NET) approach, and the development
of a culture that expects full adherence to infection prevention practices.
Clearly, there is no end to the challenges faced by infection control staff.
Phil Russo
Upcoming Conference Presentations
Details of conferences attended by and abstracts presented by VICNISS will shortly be available on the VICNISS website.
In the meantime, Noleen Bennett is attending the New Zealand National Division of Infection Control Nurses
Conference in Auckland this month, presenting on:
1. Data from larger hospitals participating in the VICNISS Hospital Acquired Infection Surveillance System - Victoria, Australia.
2. A Statewide smaller hsopital nosocomial infection surveillance programme - the first report, Victoria, Australia
In September, Claire Boardman will be attending the US Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Activity and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) in New Orleans presenting on:
1. The Victorian Hospital Acquired Infection Surveillance System (VICNISS) Costing Study of Infections Associated
with Selected Orthopaedic Surgery Procedures
New Infection Control Staff
Responses from the Type 1 Satisfaction Survey indicated that more education for new infection control staff would
be appreciated. Whether you are a Type 1 or 2 hospital, if you do have new staff members commence, please let us
know via email so we can ensure that they are familiar with VICNISS surveillance. Either an onsite visit or a workshop
(depending on numbers) can be arranged.
Type 1 Satisfaction Survey Results
Thank you to all the Type 1 infection control teams that completed the Satisfaction Survey recently. A summary of the
findings can be viewed by clicking
here (PDF File 
99kb, opens in a new window). The survey measures performance of the VICNISS system, the Coordinating Centre,
the VICNISS Manual, website and reports. Overall, results were very positive, with most respondents identifying
the value of participating in VICNISS. Some very useful suggestions were submitted by some respondents. These
included sessions on how to present and use VICNISS data. Of course, one of the most common comments related
to the resources required to collect data manually, and the need for surveillance software. The results from
this survey will be used to assist planing future activities asnd direction of the VICNISS Coordinating Centre.
Type 1 Colerectal Surgery User Group
This user group was held at Le Meridien prior to the VICNISS data presentation evening. It was devoted to assist
the facilities that contribute, or intend to contribute, data on COLO procedures to VICNISS.
Participating facilities have reported difficulty applying the infection definitions, and in some instances
given the complexity of cases it is difficult to determine which types of surgery should be included. The
classification of woulnd class was also discussed.
There are many complex issues associated with surveillance in this surgical group, so ongoing discussions
with these site undertaking COLO surveillance will be required. To further work through these issues, the
VICNISS Coordinating Centre hope to have discussions with colorectal surgeons in the near future.
Type 1 & 2 - Influenza
Just a reminder that data for this new module for both Type 1 and Type 2 hospitals was due on 31 July 2005.
Please contact
Noleen Bennett (ph 9342 3906) if you have any problems submitting this data. Feedback regarding this new module
is welcomed, particularly from those hospitals that had difficulties obtaining the requested data.
Type 2 Surveillance
Peripheral Venous Catheter Use Surveillance Module
1. Patients whose PVC was inserted in another health care facility are excluded from this module.
2. Patients whose PVC was inserted in the Emergency Dept are included in the module
Multi Resistant Organism (MRSA & VRE) and Bloodstream Infection Surveillance Modules
Just a reminder……Please contact Noleen Bennett or Ann Bull to discuss:
1. ALL positive MRSA and VRE pathology reports; and
2. ALL positive blood cultures that occurred 48 hours post admission.
Performance Indicators Report
Timeliness of data submission is now reported as a performance indicator. It is expected that data for each quarter will be submitted by the due date. Please make prior arrangements with Noleen Bennett if this is not possible.
Please call if you have any queries...9342 3906.
Infection Control Literature Review, August 2005
Our most recent literature review, for August,
compiled by Dr Deb Friedman, VICNISS ID Physician discusses current research on the following selected topics:
- Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
- The Clinical Significance of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Isolated from Blood Cultures
- Public Reporting of Healthcare-Associated Infections
