World Antibiotic Awareness Week occurs annually in November. It aims to draw attention to the role of effective use of antibiotics in preventing and containing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Antibiotic Awareness Week is a key initiative to promote the correct use of antibiotics to contribute to the avoidance of further emergence and spread of AMR. AMR is already affecting the care of healthcare consumers now and current trends indicate this will have an increasing impact over time. Key Messages for Antibiotic […]

The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) and the Australia Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) have updated the Joint Safety Statement on the Topical application of chlorhexidine and the risks of accidental injection. Please refer to https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/publications/anzca-and-commission-joint-statement-on-chlorhexidine/ for the updated statement.

International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) is right around the corner. The 2018 theme: Protecting Patients Everywhere.  By joining your colleagues and healthcare facilities in celebrating IIPW, you are raising awareness of the role infection prevention plays to improve patient/client/resident/consumer safety. Keep an eye out for resources to support your activities at http://professionals.site.apic.org/

acNAPS is a voluntary annual survey that can be undertaken on any single day between 1 June 2018 and 31 August 2018. All Australian aged care homes and multi-purpose services are eligible to participate. Participation in the survey assists aged care homes to identify improvements for residents through promoting appropriate antimicrobial use, preventing infections and helping reduce antimicrobial resistance, thereby also reducing harm. The acNAPS data can also assist aged care homes in regard to the Australian Aged Care Quality […]

Two technical reports developed by the Commission, with the advice and support of the CDI Community of Practice, have now been published on the Commission’s web site. These reports can be found at https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/healthcare-associated-infection/consultation-on-clostridium-difficile/ The recommendations detailed in these reports have been supported by the Inter Jurisdictional Committee and the Commission has already commenced work on addressing some of these recommendations. The reports will assist in the better understanding of CDI in Australia and response strategies.

On the 6 March a Scoping Workshop was held in Sydney. The Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC) Representative Terry McAculey provided feedback to Standards Australia on ACIPC’s behalf. The Scoping Workshop was organised in response to the large volume of enquiries on AS/NZS 4187 & AS/NZS 4815 and was an opportunity for HE-023 Committee members and industry to clarify the relationship of the two documents, and to identify steps to resolve the current confusion. The objectives of the […]

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) and the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) have developed a joint safety statement in response to reported incidents of accidental injection of chlorhexidine, a surface disinfectant. The Commission’s Inter-Jurisdictional Committee considered the safety statement, and supported the recommendation to publish the statement on the Commission’s website. The safety statement can be found at this link. This safety statement was developed in response to reported incidents of accidental injection of chlorhexidine. The […]

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has released Advisory No. A17/02 Batch Control Identification systems for dental practices and services that details the requirements for dental practices and services to meet Action 3.17.1. To reduce and manage infection risks associated with sterilisation of reusable medical devices and instruments, dental practices rely on the use of Batch Control Identification (BCI). Implementation of BCI systems by dental practices and services is supported by the Australian Dental Association Guidelines […]

The second edition of the NSQHS Standards is now available on the Commission’s website http://safetyandquality.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/j/AD056C5D3805B03C2540EF23F30FEDED/5B674261346ABD9973767151F2435ACA  

The new Advisory A17/01: Antimicrobial stewardship has been recently published on the Commission’s website which directly affects health service organisations. In addition the below Advisories have also been recently updated and uploaded to the Commission’s website Advisory A13/07: Advice provided to accrediting agencies on not applicable actions Advisory A16/03: Reprocessing of reusable medical devices in health service organisations The Commission has advised all advisories will be reviewed again in December 2018, prior to the implementation of the NSQHS Standards (second edition).