eBulletin February 2008 Edition 31
In this Edition:
Reminders:
| |
Data Due |
Reports posted |
| Type 1 |
8th February |
21st March |
| Type 2 |
31st January |
21st March |
Welcome to 2008
Welcome to 2008. We hope you had an enjoyable festive season and are looking forward to the year ahead. The coming year holds several exciting
prospects for VICNISS including:
- The roll out of the SHIINe surveillance software to Type 1 hospitals. Presently the pilot continues at St Vincent’s and has recently commenced at
Geelong Hospital. We are indebted to the Infection Control staff at both hospitals for their cooperation and hard work during this pilot phase.
- Reviewing all Performance Indicators with DHS over the next few months in readiness for the 2008-09 year. Remember, PIs are now measured in alignment with
the financial year, which means VICNISS Surveillance Plans for 2008-09 need to be in by 1st June.
- More User Groups via teleconferencing. The feedback was clear in 2007 that teleconferencing is a preferred option for User Groups which were well attended
and very constructive. Plans for the next User Groups in April are underway. Once dates are confirmed we will notify you via email and on our website.
- More site visits. During 2008, our infection control staff will be endeavouring to visit as many hospitals as possible. These visits are an opportunity
for you to provide direct feedback to VICNISS on any surveillance or related issues. Also, if you would like VICNISS staff to present any information on
VICNISS at meetings or committees, please let us know.
Type 1 Surveillance Update
Infection Hierarchy – Which one to Record Where More than One Procedure is Performed?
If multiple procedures are performed at the same time through the same incision that belong to two different procedure groups and the hospital is doing
surveillance on both groups of procedures eg COLO and SB - only one operation is to be recorded in the database.
This is the operation which is HIGHEST in the infection hierarchy, so in the above example it would be SB and is because the second procedure can never
have an infection recorded against it. This is also the way the new SHIINe software will deal with multiple procedures done at the same time. In terms
of hospitals recording on paper, ONE form should be filled in and the procedure group should be recorded as whichever procedure is higher in the hierarchy
(available on the VICNISS website) however ICPs should record all the procedures actually performed and of course to tick the "multiple procedures" box on
the form.
Type 2 Surveillance Update
- Just a reminder... All hospitals participating in the Type 2 surveillance program should now be using Version 10 data collection forms. These are
available in the new manual or can be downloaded from the VICNISS website.
- Some hospitals accidentally missed out on their Quarter 3, 2007 ‘Peripheral Venous Catheter Use’ reports. The reports will be downloaded onto these
hospitals password secure websites as soon as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Surveillance Plans
Please remember, surveillance plans are now in alignment with the financial year.
On 1st June 2008, we will request all surveillance plans for the financial year 2008-09 be submitted on a new Surveillance Plan form that we will be included in the new Surveillance Manuals posted on the VICNISS website shortly.
Influenza Vaccination 2008
The Influenza and Pneumococcal Public Hospital vaccination program 2008 is to commence on 1st March. A letter has been sent by the Department
of Human Services to each public hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Pharmacist and Infection Control Consultant detailing this program.
The Department’s aim for this season’s hospital influenza vaccination coverage for at risk staff members is set at 60%. It is also recommended that staff
who have contra-indications or refuse vaccination must acknowledge this in writing.
To assist with the 2008 program:
- Previous comparative reports can now be accessed on each hospital’s VICNISS password secure website.
- Vaccination ‘consent’ and ‘refusal’ forms that may be used are available on the VICNISS website on the Surveillance Manual and forms pages.
A VICNISS data collection form will be attached to the Infection Control consultant’s letter. This is in order to monitor the 2008 influenza vaccine
uptake by staff in each hospital. Please note the changes in staff group categories. Also, separate information is being sought on Emergency department
staff this year; however these staff should still be included in the total hospital data. This form is to be completed and returned to the VICNISS
Coordinating Centre (via fax 9342 2633) by 30th September 2008.
Results from the 2007 hospital influenza vaccination coverage are listed in the table below with comparisons to 2006 and 2005. As demonstrated,
there have been slight increases in vaccination coverage in most categories. While the aim is to estimate vaccine coverage in acute facilities
it should be noted that these data may include some non-acute data as the data breakdown for some health services can be a challenge, however it
appears the quality of the data is improving. In future the emphasis will be not so much on the number of vaccinations given but the percentage of
at risk staff vaccinated hence the requirement to sight documentation for staff vaccinated elsewhere and the introduction of refusal forms.
The Statewide influenza vaccination coverage for 2007 was 45%. In 2006 and 2005 it was 41% and 38% respectively.
| Major Category | Minor Category | Percentage vaccinated 2005 (Denominator) | Percentage vaccinated 2006 (Denominator) | Percentage vaccinated 2007 (Denominator) |
| Clinical | Medical | 29.7 (5411) | 31.8 (7743) | 34.0 (7870) |
| | Nursing | 35.7 (19665) | 39.2 (26816) | 42.7 (23542) |
| | Allied | 46.0 (4577) | 38.4 (6076) | 47.6 (6534) |
| | Other | 50.8 (7308) | 51.3 (5967) | 52.0 (5957) |
| Non Clinical | | 37.4 (5542) | 46.7 (11546) | 45.6 (9036) |
| Laboratory | | 41.6 (740) | 52.2 (1027) | 42.8 (1298) |
VICPA/VICNISS Journal Club
The date for the next Journal Club will be Friday, 11th April. More details will follow when available.
For further enquiries please contact VICPA Education Officer, Louise Wright at
Louise.Wright @ southernhealth.org.au
or Judy Brett at VICNISS.
Infection Control Literature Review, February 2008
Our most recent
literature review, for February, compiled by Dr Leon Worth, ID Physician,
discusses current research on the following selected topics:
- Differences in Implementation of Surveillance Strategies Limit International Comparison of SSI Surveillance Data
- Use of Administrative Data for Surveillance of Invasive Aspergillosis
