VICNISS together with the DoH Aged Care Quality Improvement Unit, DoH Infection Prevention Control Advice and Response team, Victorian Aged Care Response Centre and Rural Infection Control Practice Group are hosting free webinars aimed at providing infection prevention and control (IPC) support for Aged Care IPC Leads in all Victorian residential aged care services. Read more...
In preparation for the 2021 HCW Influenza Vaccination Program Sanofi Pasteur will be hosting a one-hour live webinar on the 2nd of March @ 12pm AEST. The webinar, titled “The Influenza Conversation” aims to support the ongoing education needs of staff health program coordinators. Read more...
As you are all too well aware, this year has brought about many changes and new challenges to our work day. Expertise, in infection control in particular, understandably has been in demand and the staff here at VICNISS have been called upon to share their expertise and give support to several DHHS key acute and aged care projects to assist in the fight against COVID-19. DHHS Deputy Public Health Commander and Director Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Cell Claire Boardman has written a letter extending her gratitude to the team and asked we share it with you. You can read more about it here, in her letter of thanks, where she details the projects and involvement the staff have had. VICNISS staff would in turn like to pass on a heartfelt thanks to all of you. We could not have played our role in supporting the response without your assistance, cooperation and patience. We hope you all get to enjoy Christmas and New Year with family and friends. Read more...
Click on the link below to read our infectious diseases physician Dr Lyn-li Lim's latest literature reviews. This month's review is on two recently published articles on seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Read more...
As of January 2021 changes to SAP compliance assessment will come into effect and apply to the following VICNISS surveillance modules: SSI, SESI (small hospitals), SAP (small hospitals) and COLOPAM. Click on the link to read more... Read more...
All Victorian Public Sector Residential Aged Care Services (PSRACS) are required to participate in the ‘Resident and herpes zoster, influenza and pneumococcal vaccination modules’. Data is to be collected during May and submitted by June 1st. Read more...
Ongoing CPE surveillance in Victoria was disrupted by COVID-19 activities. Investigation is ongoing and TRA list will be updated shortly Read more...
Please note the recent release of the "Clinical and related Waste Guidance - Supplement for healthcare staff". You may recall that this topic was covered at last year's Infection Clinical Network forum. Read more...
VICNISS Competencies have been reviewed and revised versions are now available. We strongly encourage those staff involved in surveillance and submission of data to VICNISS relating to the following modules to complete the corresponding competencies; CLABSI, SSI, SAB and CDI. Haemodialysis Event (HDE) is a new competency now available for all staff completing haemodialysis event surveillance. Read more...
VICNISS together with stakeholders have developed a definition that clarifies a peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) associated Staphylococcus aureus blood stream infection (SAB) as distinct from a central venous catheter (CVC) associated SAB. Read more...
Are antibiotics overused in aged care? A/Prof. Noleen Bennett, our senior infection control consultant and project officer for the Aged Care National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey recently gave an interview with the Australian Prescriber. Read more...
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care recently revised their Implementation Guide for Surveillance of Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI) in Australian public and private hospitals Read more...
The Victorian Guideline on Candida auris was recently released and is available at: https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/infection-control Read more...
