VICNISS recently held information sessions to facilitate the commencement of healthcare associated infection surveillance in private hospitals. These workshops gave an overview of the amended legislation regarding the reporting of infections by private hospitals and the role of VICNISS as the agency supporting this change. Participants were introduced to the VICNISS team, specifically Maree Sommerville who is the project lead.
Read more...A new resource is now available providing a guide to how VICNISS assess prophylactic antibiotics as either optimal, adequate, inadequate or unknown.
Read more...Several chapters/modules in the VICNISS manual have been reviewed and should be used commencing January 2019. Click on the link for a summary of changes.
Read more...Last month several of the VICNISS team travelled to Brisbane for the 2018 Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control Conference. Click on the link to see a summary of key points
Read more...The CPE TRA list has recently been updated on 3 December 2018
Read more...The Ageing and Skin Health Seminar was held at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, on Tuesday 25th September 2018. Specific topics included Pressure Injury Prevention, Acute versus Chronic Infections, Why an Aseptic Technique, Antimicrobial Stewardship and much more. Presentations and video recordings are now available.
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VICNISS is a partner in the National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship (NCAS). The multiple areas of overlap between antimicrobial stewardship and infection control mean NCAS and VICNISS are working collaboratively on many joint projects.
Some of these include:
Resources such as guidelines, root cause analysis/ audit tools and fact sheets can be found on the following link: https://www.ncas-australia.org/
Many healthcare associated infections are preventable. As a consumer of healthcare, you may wish to know more about how to prevent acquiring an infection during your hospital stay. Consumer facts sheets have been developed to support the messages on healthcare associated infection contained in the NHMRC Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare (2010). These fact sheets aim to inform patients, visitors, families and carers about healthcare associated infection, what activities healthcare facilities have in place to prevent infections and/or to limit the spread of infections. (NB: The Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare (2010 Guidelines) are currently under review.
The current fact sheets can be accessed via the NHMRC website here
Click on the Go to Downloads button to find the brochures for the following:
Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI)
Clostridium difficile (CDI)
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE)
There is a vast amount of information available on the internet in relation to healthcare associated infections some of which may not be accurate. If you wish to know more regarding infection prevention; contact the Infection Prevention team at your hospital, or you can use the recommended links of reputable websites below.
