eBulletin October 2009 Edition 39
In this Edition:
Reminders - Data Q1, 2009/10:
| |
Data Due |
Reports posted |
| Type 1 |
6th November |
11th December |
| Type 2 |
30th October |
11th December |
| Hand Hygeine |
27th November |
TBA |
VICNISS Operations Director Extended Leave
Just to let everyone know that VICNISS Operations Director Clinton Dunkley will be on extended sick leave.
In the meantime, it will be business as usual at VICNISS and Ann Bull will be acting Operations Director.
Most importantly, we wish Clinton all the best and hope he recovers quickly.
Hand Hygiene Victoria comes to VICNISS
You may be aware that as of 1st September the activities of Hand Hygiene Victoria transferred to the VICNISS
Coordinating Centre. Kelvin Heard sent out an email to all participating hospitals prior to this date advising of the changes
in summary:
- All data (both compliance and SAB data) will now be submitted to VICNISS. VICNISS is currently working on a revised
form for the inclusion of SAB data that will come into effect on 1st January.
- The provision of education will be through VICNISS on a need basis but may also be undertaken by Hand Hygiene Australia at time
and dates advertised on the HHA website www.hha.org.au.
- Claire Boardman will be the primary contact for hand hygiene related queries and data submission in Victoria. Please submit all
Hand Hygiene related queries and data to the newly created VICNISS email address which is
vicnisshh @ mh.org.au.
- Please note the following data reporting deadlines in your diaries. The dates for HH data submission to VICNISS are consistent
with the posting on the HHA website and are as follows:
- 27th November 2009
- 2nd April 2010
- 6th August 2010
- 26th November 2010
- From 1st January ALL health services/hospitals that are unable to comply with submission of HH data within the reporting time
will be required to complete the VICNISS
NOTICE OF INABILITY TO UNDERTAKE VICNISS SURVEILLANCE ACTIVITIES FORM.
- As per the letter dated 10/06/09 from DHS to all health services the HH compliance benchmark has been raised and is now 60%.
PLEASE ENSURE THAT THE HAND HYGIENE COORDINATOR AT YOUR FACILITY IS UP TO DATE WITH THE CHANGES.
Influenza Vaccination 2009 Data
For those still to submit their 2009 Influenza data collection forms (due date 30th September), any
data collected as part of the H1N1 vaccination campaign is NOT to be included.
Type 1 Surveillance Reminders
- Infection 'Detected' field: Remember to record the time that the patient presented with surgical site infection
(SSI) that meets VICNISS criteria:
- Admission – Infection was detected during the current acute hospital
admission. If an SSI develops post-discharge, however the onset of clinical signs and symptoms were
evident in hospital, the infection is reported as 'during admission', i.e. in hospital.
- Post Discharge – Infection was detected after discharge from the acute
hospital. Includes SSI identified in another facility i.e. if a patient is admitted to a facility
other than the one in which the operation was performed.
- HITH – Infection was detected whilst the patient was in the hospital
in the home (HITH) program and was not readmitted.
- Readmission – Patient was readmitted to the hospital where the
operation took place.
- Pathogen and Antibiotic Sensitivity Data
- A reminder that VICNISS requires all hospitals to record all available pathogen and antibiotic sensitivity
data on the VICNISS data forms.
- VICNISS has been collecting pathogen and antibiotic sensitivity data since 2002. This data allows us to monitor
trends within an organization and overall for the state of Victoria. The data allows continual monitoring of
pathogens and recognition of changes in sensitivity patterns.
Type 2 Surveillance Update
Just a reminder about the MRO data collection form:
For specimens collected from non-sterile sites, appropriate antibiotics must be administered for the
MRO to be classified as an infection. The appropriateness of an antibiotic should be checked against
the patient’s pathology reports.
Infection Control Literature Review, October 2009
Our most recent
literature review, for October, compiled by Dr Leon Worth, ID Physician,
discusses current research on the following selected topics:
- Experience of using an Antimicrobial Utilisation Program for Improving Antimicrobial Prescribing
- Simulation-based Education of Hospital Medical Officers can Reduce Catheter-related Bloodstream Infections in ICU
