Late September DHHS sent a message to Health Services CEOs regarding the suspension of mandatory reporting of some routine data to VICNISS, which has now been extended to 31 December 2020. Read more by clicking the link below. Please note that it is essential that your surveillance plan exactly matches the submitted data as this is important for state level reporting. Read more...
Click on the link below to read our infectious diseases physician Dr Lyn-li Lim's latest literature reviews. The first being "Special report on COVID-19 outbreaks in Aged Care Facilities" and the second review on "Victorian Healthcare Worker COVID-19: An update" Read more...
The COVID-19 frontline health workers study explores the important social, occupational and mental health effects experienced by frontline health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. People working in other frontline health areas (such as medical or surgical areas) are also welcome to take part via the survey. You do not need to have worked directly with people with COVID-19 to participate, as the study would like to hear from all frontline health workers. Read more...
In response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Victoria, VICNISS have added information to our Infection Control Toolbox Read more...
For the latest updates and information about the novel coronavirus in Victoria please refer to the DHHS website. As this is a rapidly changing situation please refer to this link for updates regularly. Read more...
The CPE TRA list has recently been updated on 24 August 2020 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...
You are advised to begin considering your VICNISS surveillance plan for the next financial year. The plan must be submitted by 30 June 2020. 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...
We have provided a link to a video conference, conducted on Wednesday 11th March, 2020 with our Infectious Diseases Physician Dr Lyn-li Lim along with Prof Allen Cheng, Infectious Diseases Physician, Deputy Victorian Chief Health Officer Dr Annaliese van Diemen and AMA Victoria President A/Prof Julian Rait. Read more...
From Monday 27th April DHHS require weekly updates on progress of your HCW influenza vaccination program Read more...
Please note that the data collection period for Healthcare Worker Influenza Vaccination has now ended and data can now be entered via a web form by all hospitals/health services (final due date Friday 28th August 2020) 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...
VICNISS currently provides health services surgical antibiotic prophylaxis reports, which include compliance with antibiotic choice, timing and duration. You will have noticed changes to the SAP data fields in the revised manual (July 2019). This information will allow antibiotics, that the patient is receiving for treatment of infection, to be included in assessment of surgical prophylaxis. Read more...
VICNISS is in the process of updating reports, and some of you will have been consulted during the scoping process around draft peer groups earlier this year. We invite you to submit input regarding the utility of these groups for future reporting by 31st January 2020. Read more...
Recently Victorian Parliament passed legislation to amend the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 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...
On 27th August VICNISS hosted a masterclass to support staff involved in Central Line-associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI) surveillance. Read on to review the sessions presented or to view a webinar recording. Read more...
Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC) are running an online course on Foundation of Infection Prevention and Control. This course will commence on October 23rd 2019 Read more...
Need clarification on the following new data field? “in addition to prophylaxis (listed above), was patient receiving antibiotics prior to surgery?” 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 and submitted during September. Read more...
The VICNISS Surveillance Manual review is now complete. Modules have been updated and changes went into effect as of 1st July 2019. Please ensure you have read the latest version of the module when performing surveillance. Read more...
VICNISS conducted a series of educational webinars in March – June 2019. Please read on to see the list of topics and a link to view any webinar/s. Read more...
The official data collection and submission period for 2019 is a single day between June 1st and August 31st. For registered users, the User Guide and simplified data collection forms can be accessed via the AC NAPS resources page. Read more...
Procedure groups and codes have been reviewed and updated. View the list in the Surgical Site Infection (SSI) Module under SUPPORT MATERIALS . 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...
