There are a number of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) positions currently being advertised with the Victorian Department of Health. Read more...
The CPE TRA list has recently been updated on September 16 2021 Read more...
Ongoing support for all Victorian Aged Care IPC Leads continues with monthly online forums. If you missed any or would like to go back and re-watch one or more of the webinars, recordings are available along with the PowerPoint presentations. Read more...
In this month's review Dr Lyn-li Lim looks at SSI infections and ways to reduce rates: Click on the link below to read more Read more...
We can now announce our collaborative application for a NHMRC MRFF grant was successful. Our integrated grant project will engage three leading multidisciplinary groups currently working to improve quality of care in the Australian aged care sector: the Victorian Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance System (VICNISS), the National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship (NCAS) and the Registry of Senior Australians (ROSA). The timely aim is to develop, implement and scale a surveillance program to reduce the incidence of infectious diseases among consumers and related care transitions in all Australian aged care homes (ACHs) - the National Infection Surveillance Program for Aged Care (NISPAC). Read more...
Victorian public and private hospitals performing surveillance for healthcare-associated infections and relevant processes are reminded that from July 2021, VICNISS Surgical Antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) reporting will apply updated compliance definitions on the following.... Read more...
A review and update of the VICNISS manual is now complete and came into effect as of July 1 2021. Read more...
The team have put together some tips to help with frequently found errors when entering data. In this instance we take a look at some common inaccuracies found when entering data for a haemodialysis event as well as surgical antibiotic prophylaxis. Read more...
The Department of Health (DH), in their regular communication to CEOs, has advised the following: "It is no longer mandatory for Victorian facilities to facilitate asymptomatic testing, nor are there specific targets on the frequency of testing" Read more...
All Victorian Public Sector Residential Aged Care Services (PSRACS) are required to participate in the Resident Vaccination Modules: Herpes zoster, Influenza and Pneumococcal. Data is to be collected during May and submitted by June 1st. To assist in collecting this data VICNISS held a webinar on Monday 26th April. Read more...
In preparation for the 2021 HCW Influenza Vaccination Program VICNISS conducted a webinar. Read more...
A cornerstone of Infection Control, so no wonder we have lots to update you on in the Hand Hygiene space: 5th May is World hand Hygiene Day; Tips to assist learners with login issues to Learning Management System (online hand hygiene training modules); Gold Stand Auditor Training Resources Hand Hygiene Compliance Application (HHCApp); Inclusion of Hand Hygiene Audit Data from Residential Aged Care Facilities in National Dataset. Read on for more information... 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...
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...
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...
