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eBulletin December 2005 Edition 18 |
In this Edition:
Reminders:
! Type 2 Data Submission:
Quarter 3 Reports were released on 16th December 2005. The deadline for data to be forwarded to the
VICNISS Coordinating Centre for Quarter 4, 2005 is Tuesday, 31stJanuary 2005.
The corresponding report is then due to be posted mid-March 2005.
! Type 1 Data Submission:
Quarter 3 Reports were released on 16th December 2005. The deadline for data to be forwarded to the
VICNISS Coordinating Centre for Quarter 4, 2005 is Friday, 3rd February 2005.
The corresponding report is then due to be posted mid-March 2005.
Key Dates: For more information on deadlines and dates, please
click here
(Opens in new window).
2006 Dates
Please click here
(Opens in new window) for a spreadsheet that contains some important dates for 2006.
Note that we aim to have the first Type 1 User Group in February, followed by an education update in March. Also, p
lease note the important dates for data submission for all hospitals. We will continue to distribute the eBulletin
bimonthly. If you have any suggestions for the eBulletin, or would like to contribute an article, please contact
us at vicniss @ mh.org.au.
Performance Indicators 2006
As you were recently notified, the 2006 Performance Indicators have been endorsed by the VICNISS Advisory
Committee and the Department of Human Services (DHS). The updated Type 1 indicators can be viewed by
clicking here, and the Type 2 indicators can be viewed by clicking here.
The VICNISS Coordinating Centre is required to report this information to the Department to meet contractual
obligations. The Department will incorporate the indicators into the hospital Integrated Performance Reports
which are routinely provided to hospital Boards and the Minister.
The VICNISS Coordinating Centre acknowledges that the ability to meet the Hospital Participation Indicators
is dependent on Infection Control resources at each hospital. If surveillance activities are unable to be
undertaken continuously as outlined below, please notify the VICNISS Coordinating Centre. This information
will then be passed on to DHS.
Annual Surveillance Plans
Just a reminder to all sites, your Annual Surveillance Plans are due to be submitted by 31st December 2005.
If you are having difficulty in deciding which activities should be undertaken, let us know and we may be able to help.
Type 1 Surveillance Updates
Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis Data
The current reports include the 3rd analysis of Type 1 surgical antibioic prophylaxis data. The first reports
generated considerable discussion, and this latest report provides an opportunity for hospitals to review
whether improvement has been achieved.
We emphasise that we believe that it is important that this data is fed back to the individual surgical
specialties performing the procedures under surveillance. It is through this that your hard-obtained data
is most likely to lead to improvements in practice.
In reading the reports, it is also important not just to look at appropriateness of antibiotic choice
and timing, but also at the volume of data. In some hospials, it appears that although appropriate timing
of administration (expressed as a percentage) has not improved, the volume of data for timing and duration
has improved substantially, a significant step in the right direction.
Surveillance Software Update
The challenge to find suitable surveillance software continues. Presently we are exploring several
avenues to provide the best solution. Our aim is to identify a program that requires minimal manual data
input. However, this does depend on the various hospital information systems. In order to expedite a roll
out when an application is chosen, our partners for the software project, Victorian Partnership for Advanced
Computing (VPAC), have already contacted several Chief Information Officers at some hospitals to discuss system
integration issues.
The software issue has presented many unforeseen challenges, and we acknowledge the labour intensive
process of manual data collection. However, in the long run, we do believe that the end result will be a
highly integrated application, that will be of great benefit to all Infection Control teams.
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**Updated Fax Cover Page for Data Submission**
From 1st January 2006 all Type 1hospitals that are submitting SSI data via fax are required to complete
the updated fax cover sheet (link no longer available)table for each record sent to ensure VICNISS can check that
they have received all data transmitted.
User Group - Hospital-in-the-Home (HITH)
A recent phone survey has highlighted the differences in HITH programs that exists in Victorian hospitals.
One of the issues highlighted was the difficulty in capturing hospital acquired infections in HITH patients.
To discuss how we can address some of these HITH issues, we have scheduled a User Group meeting specifically for HITH.
The User Group meeting was recently rescheduled to February. We will distribute more information about
this User Group meeting shortly.
Type 2 Surveillance Update
Just a reminder……..As outlined in the VICNISS manual, each surveillance module has a
‘target population’. Most commonly, this is all single or multi day acute care patients >
16 years. Emergency, psychiatric and rehabilitation patients are excluded.
For the Occupational Exposure module, do not forget to record an employee number. The employee number is a unique
identification number to be entered in exactly the same manner each time. This number must be able to be used if
necessary to re-identify the employee to whom the data relates.
Surveillance Plans for 2006 are due by 31st December 2005.
Please call or email Noleen Bennett if you have any queries...9342 3906.
VICPA Conference
Congratulations
At the recent VICPA conference Fiona ten Berk de Boer (Dandenong Hospital, Southern Health) won the Encouragement
award for best (new speaker presentation) "Successful Reduction in the transmission of MRSA in ICU.".
The award comprised of a $200 book voucher for Melbourne University bookshop donated by the VICNISS Coordinating
Centre (from funds received for providing a series of lectures at Melbourne University during 2005). We congratulate
Fiona on her fine presentation.
VICNISS Presentations
At the VICPA conference 2005, VICNISS staff presented two talks.
- ‘Surveillance for Smaller Hospitals What are the Alternatives?’ (Noleen Bennett)
The methodology, results and the following broad conclusions for the smaller hospital surveillance program preplanning and
pilot stages were briefly outlined.
(a) Preplanning Stage. Whilst some results were applicable to all smaller hospitals some important differences were noted too
between smaller and larger hospitals and smaller hospitals of different acute bed sizes.
(b) Pilot Stage. The overall implementation of the smaller hospital surveillance program was achievable but specific program
elements would need to be modified.
- 'VICNISS Costing Study Update: Infections Associated with Selected Orthopaedic Procedures' (Claire Boardman)
The methodology, limitations and preliminary results were presented. It is anticipated that this study will significantly
contribute to the very small body of literature within Australia that discusses costs within the Australian Healthcare system.
Also, Dr Ann Bull conducted a pre-conference Epidemiology Workshop for Infection Control Consultants.
The free workshop was very popular with over 40 delegates attending. Feedback has been very positive. Given
the success of the workshop, there is a possibility that more may be conducted in the future.
Surveillance Manual & Website Updates
As advised in the October eBulletin, both of the VICNISS Surveillance Manuals and the VICNISS website
are currently being reviewed and updated for release early in the new year.
If you have suggestions or comments you would like to make in regard to content, please contact
VICNISS.
Infection Control Literature Review, December 2005
Our most recent literature review, for December,
compiled by Claire Boardman, VICNISS Senior Infection Control Consultant, and Phil Russo, VICNISS Deputy Director,
discusses current research on the following selected topics:
- Reduction in Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections Among Patients in Intensive Care Units
- Surgical Site Infection Rates following Cardiac Surgery: The impact of a 6-year infection control program
- Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia: A review of the risk factors for hospital-acquired pneumonia, diagnostic testing, and treatment strategies
- Genetic Relatedness of Staphylococcus Epidermidis from Infected Infants and Staff in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
VICNISS Staff News
Congratulations to our Information Technology Consultant, Simon Burrell, who has a new baby daughter, Maya, born
yesterday morning.
Xmas and New Year Period
Please note that the VICNISS Coordinating Centre will be closed for the period between Xmas and New Years.
Our last day of operation will be on Friday, 23rd December 2005 and we will reopen
on Tuesday, 3rd January 2006. During this period, if you require any urgent assistance,
call 0417 158 628 and leave a message, and one of the team members will respond to your call.
Xmas Message!
We'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the Infection Control teams from all the hospitals for
their hard work in collecting and submitting VICNISS data in the quest to provide a safer environment for
your patients, which of course is the ultimate aim of surveillance. We are privileged to have the opportunity
to continue to operate the VICNISS Coordinating Centre, and look forward to the next three years of working with you all.
From everybody at the VICNISS Coordinating Centre, we'd like to wish you all a VERY SAFE and happy Festive Season.
