Infection Control Breaking News... Royal Melbourne hospital launches new system to track drug use Herald Sun August 07, 2008 01:50pm TECHNOLOGY to fight superbugs in Australian hospitals is being hailed as a likely world first. Unveiled at the Royal Melbourne Hospital today, the new web-based system known as Guidance DS is designed to minimise inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions and track drug usage trends across the country, reducing the incidence of patients being unresponsive to drugs.   Click here to view full article Media release In response to recent gastroenteritis outbreaks in nursing homes, the Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot, today announced a response plan.   Click here to download media release. Nursing homes standards tighentened Herald Sun, July 14, 2008 11:59pm THE federal government plans to tighten nursing home accreditation standards to reduce the likelihood of infection outbreaks. Ageing Minister Justine Elliot today said the government would review accreditation standards, saying the current infection control standard was very broad. Ms Elliot said the new standards would cover in more detail how homes can reduce the likelihood of outbreaks of infection through good handwashing practices, safe disposal of bodily waste and proper use of gowns, gloves and masks. Click here to view full article    Govt to tighten nursing home standards   The Age, July 14, 2008 11:36pm The federal government plans to tighten nursing home accreditation standards to reduce the likelihood of infection outbreaks.  Click here to view full article   Outbreak prompts review of standards Australian Ageing Agenda, July 15, 11:10pm The Minister for Ageing has called for a review of the accreditation standards on infection control following a series of reports on gastro outbreaks in aged care facilities. Click here to view full article Standards of Practice for the Victorian Infection Control Professional Take 2 Revised Draft Victorian Infection Control Competencies Feedback from the Nurses Board of Victoria on the first draft of the Victorian infection control competency document was to abbreviate it so that it modelled current nursing competency frameworks. The draft competency document has now been reformatted to meet this feedback. The competency statements within the revised document were developed from the criteria that reflected the practice of a competent professional from the workshops.     Click here to read more.   Invitation to comment on the Reducing harm to patients from healthcare associated infection: the role of surveillance A focus of the work of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality on Health Care (ACSQHC) is on areas of the health system where current and complex problems or community concerns could benefit from urgent national consideration and action. The healthcare associated infection program, nominated as one of the priority areas for 2007/10, aims to develop a national approach to reducing health care associated infection by identifying and addressing systemic problems and gaps, and ensuring comprehensive actions are undertaken in a nationally coordinated way by leaders, decision makers in both public and private health sectors. As the first of several initiatives, this report seeks to explore options for surveillance systems to monitor health care associated infection and provide timely feedback to jurisdictions, managers and clinicians. The result is an evidence-based and authoritative analysis that can promote stronger linkages between other health data systems and with policy makers, and to ensure that the messages derived from surveillance data can be turned into public health action for better health outcomes. This report was compiled by 51 experts from across Australia and provides an overview of current healthcare associated infections issues and surveillance initiatives in Australia, and a review of international and Australian surveillance literature. This report provides a comprehensive picture of the surveillance of HAI in Australia, demonstrates the costs that these infections impose upon individual Australians and the health system. Each chapter includes recommendations and a summary of key points based on the material presented. We greatly appreciate your comments and your assistance in helping us ensure that this strategy is of value to those receiving health services and those working in the field. A copy of Reducing harm to patients from healthcare associated infection: the role of surveillance and a copy of the key working document to with your submission may be downloaded from the ACSQHC website www.safetyandquality.gov.au   Click here to download a template to assist should you wish to comment on recommendations from individual chapters The ACSQHC will accept written submissions up to 30 September 2008. Submissions marked Surveillance of healthcare associated infections should be forward to: GPO Box 5480 SYDNEY NSW 2001 Or emailed to: mail@safetyandquality.gov.au It should be noted that to ensure maximum transparency all submissions will be published on the Commissions website, including the names of individuals and /or organisations making the submission. The Commission will consider requests to withhold the contents of any submissions made in whole or part. Please contact me on 02 9263 3786 or via email on marilyn.cruickshanks@safetyandquality.gov.au for further information. Marilyn Cruickshank RN PhD FRCNA Policy Manager Clinical Safety and Quality Projects Australian Commission on Safety & Quality in Healthcare Level 7, 1 Oxford St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010 GPO Box 5480, Sydney, NSW 2001 Phone: 02 9263 3786 Mobile: 0423 842897 Fax: 02 9263 3613   Media Release Click here to download a media release from the Australian Commission on Safety & Quality in Healthcare		About VICPA Preventing infection through safe practice VICPA is a voluntary, not for profit association representing Victorian infection control professionals and other health care workers with an interest in infection prevention and control. The association promotes infection prevention strategies in health care settings by working together to foster professional development and standards of practice.   Click here to read more about VICPA What's on in August? Membership Renewals Standards of Practice for the Victorian Infection Control Professional Read the latest e-bulletin Job Opportunities Study Day Alfred Seminar - IC during construction Surveillance of healthcare associated infections - below What is coming up... Forbes Week 2008 AICA Conference VICPA Journal Club Membership Login Instructions If you are experiencing difficulty in logging on? Please click here or contact us