The World Health Organization has released a global health alert regarding Zika Virus. Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director General, has advised that Zika Virus is a serious global health concern and with highly likely global spread. Moreover, particular concerns have been raised regarding the maternal-fetal effects of the virus. The Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC) President Professor Ramon Shaban reports that “While the current evidence indicates that the vast majority of patients infected with Zika Virus are asymptomatic, […]

The Australian Commission of Safety and Quality in Healthcare (ACSQHC) has released the National Standard for User-applied Labelling of Injectable Medicines, Fluids and Lines (the Labelling Standard) in September 2015. The Labelling Standard expands on the Labelling Recommendations (OD 0385/12) to include: Labelling of containers in perioperative settings (including cardiac catheter and interventional radiology units) Colour-coded preprinted medicine labels for use on dedicated continuous infusion lines Liquid medicines for oral, enteral and inhalational use Labelling of non-injectable medicines and fluids […]

Pertussis is endemic in Australia, with cyclic outbreaks typically occurring every 3 to 5 years.  In WA, weekly laboratory notifications of confirmed pertussis infections have been increasing throughout 2015, suggesting that another pertussis outbreak may be imminent. In light of this, the WA Communicable Disease Control Directorate (CDCD) would like to remind immunisation providers of the significant impact of pertussis illness, particularly among newborns, with more than 80% of all deaths from pertussis occur in children less than 3 months […]

The National Immunisation Committee (NIC) Immunisation Provider Competency Working Group (IPCWG) has undertaken a review of the 2001 National Guidelines for Immunisation Education for Registered Nurses and Midwives (the National Guidelines) to develop the draft National Immunisation Education Framework for Health Professionals (the draft Framework). The purpose of this review was to improve national consistency in core standards for practice and training and assessment for immunisation providers. The draft Framework sets out the standards for practice for independent immunisers. It […]

Professor John Turnidge, Senior Medical Adviser at the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission), explains the causes and dangers of antimicrobial resistance, inappropriate antimicrobial usage, and what the Commission is doing about it. Watch the Commission’s animation on the Antimicrobial Use & Resistance in Australia Surveillance System on YouTube here

Australian Food Safety Week takes place this year on the 8 – 15 November. As part of Food Safety Week, the Department of Health Food Unit will be hosting a series of events including: Food labelling seminar delivered by Food Standards Australia New Zealand Update on the review of the Food Act 2008 (WA) and WA Regulatory Food Safety Auditing Framework Food-borne disease outbreaks workshop (hosted by EHA WA) Food “hot topics” seminar and workshops on the assessment of food products […]

The Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee (AIVC) met at TGA, Canberra, on 8th October 2015, to recommend influenza viruses to be used in the composition of the influenza vaccines for 2016. During this meeting, the expert committee reviewed and evaluated data related to epidemiology, antigenic and genetic characteristics of recent influenza isolates circulating in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere, serological responses to 2014-2015 vaccines, and the availability of candidate vaccines viruses and reagents. The committee recommended that the TGA should adopt the September 2015 WHO recommendations: • […]

Resources for Antibiotic Awareness Week (AAW) 2015 are available to download from the Commission website http://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/healthcare-associated-infection/antimicrobial-stewardship/antibiotic-awareness-week/ There is just over one month to go until Antibiotic Awareness Week, which begins on Monday 16 November, 2015. This year is the first time the World Health Organization will endorse World Antibiotic Awareness Week, with the theme “Antibiotics. Handle with Care”.  The Commission campaign for 2015 reflects this global theme, and resources have been developed to assist hospitals plan activities for the week. This […]

This week is International Infection Prevention Week. The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has developed an Infection Prevention and Control Orientation Package for Health Care Workers. This online orientation module is designed to be used by health service organisations (HSO) as part orientation programs for the workforce in infection prevention and control. The module contains three levels that reflect the variation in risk of exposure to blood and body substances that different roles may have and users […]

International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) is right around the corner: October 18-24, 2015. IIPW is an annual awareness campaign to stimulate interest in and highlight the importance of infection prevention. This year’s theme is promoting engagement between patients, visitors, and healthcare professionals around infection prevention. Check out the activities, resources, and materials on the APIC website http://consumers.site.apic.org/