The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has released the attached Advisory No: A16/03: Reprocessing of reusable medical devices in health service organisations which may have implications for your healthcare facility. Advisory A16/03 describes the minimum requirements for health service organisation compliance with Action 3.16.1 of the NSQHS Standards following the introduction of AS/NZS 4187:2014. Action 3.16.1 of the NSQHS Standards states “Compliance with relevant national or international standards and manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation […]

The theme for this year’s International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) is “Breaking the Chain of Infection” so mark your calendars for 16 to 22 October 2016. IIPW is an annual awareness campaign to stimulate interest in and highlight the importance of infection prevention. A number of exciting activities and resources are being planned around the 2016 IIPW theme so stay tuned for details on how you can get involved in IIPW.

Included in this TGA Medical Devices Safety Update: TGA urges reporting of contamination after reprocessing of endoscopes Non-tuberculous mycobacterium infections associated with heater-cooler devices https://www.tga.gov.au/sites/default/files/medical-devices-safety-update-volume-4-number-3-may-2016.pdf

In view of the global concern over the outbreak of the Zika virus, both Elsevier and The Lancet have created a Zika Virus Resource Center on Elsevier Connect with the latest updates, research, reviews, editorials, correspondence and commentary to help healthcare professionals, medical researchers and the public understand the outbreak. Both info centers are advised by clinicians and professional editors and will be updated with the most current research and evidence-based information available.

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 […]