The 2014 report of the National Antimicrobial Utilisation Surveillance Program  has been released by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission). The NAUSP is a passive surveillance system measuring rates of antimicrobial usage in hospital settings. The 2014 NAUSP report provides the results of data from 129 participating acute care hospitals (111 public and 18 private) ranging from principal referral hospitals to small public acute hospitals across Australia.  For Australian public hospital beds, this represents more […]

Public consultation on the draft version 2 of the NSQHS Standards is now open and feedback can be provided until 30th October 2015.  The Commission wants to hear from anyone involved in healthcare during this consultation period, including consumers, health professionals, health service managers, health departments, technical experts and accrediting agencies. The consultation draft version 2 of the NSQHS Standards can be accessed at:  http://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/accreditation-and-the-nsqhs-standards/current-consultations/  

Virus Watch Week Ending 6 September 2015 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Most direct and indirect indicators of influenza activity declined this week, suggesting we have passed the peak of the influenza season. ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) and emergency departments (EDs) decreased this week and are consistent with presentations rates during recent mild influenza seasons. Influenza virus detections, notifications and percent positivity decreased this week. The decline in overall influenza detections was almost entirely due to […]

Virus WAtch Week Ending 30 August 2015 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Indicators of influenza activity remained stable or declined this week, further indicating we may have reached the peak of the influenza season. Non-influenza respiratory virus activity continues to decline. ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) and emergency departments (EDs) remain relatively stable and within ranges seen in recent mild influenza seasons. Influenza virus detections, notifications and percent positivity decreased this week. Influenza B virus (62% of […]

Virus WAtch Week Ending 23 August 2015 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Indicators of influenza activity increased slightly, but still suggest we are approaching the peak of the influenza season. The majority of non-influenza viruses remained steady or declined. ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) and emergency departments (EDs) increased marginally but remain within ranges seen in recent mild influenza seasons. Influenza virus detections, notifications and percent positivity are fluctuating within levels seen in recent mild seasons. Influenza […]

Virus WAtch Week Ending 16 August 2015 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Indicators of influenza activity remain relatively steady, suggesting we are around the peak of the influenza season. Non-influenza virus activity continues to decline. ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) and emergency departments (EDs) remain relatively steady and within ranges seen in mild influenza seasons. Influenza virus detections, notifications and percent positivity appear to have plateaued. Influenza B virus (57% of detections) continues to predominate, but appears […]

Virus WAtch Week Ending 9 August 2015 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Indicators of influenza activity remain relatively steady, indicating we may be at or near the peak of the influenza season. Non-influenza virus activity continues to decline. ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) and emergency departments (EDs) have plateaued. Influenza virus detections and notifications have plateaued, but percent positivity increased this week. Influenza B virus (61% of detections) continues to predominate, but is gradually declining in relative […]

Virus WAtch Week Ending 2 August 2015 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Indicators of influenza activity remain relatively steady, indicating we may be at or near the peak of the influenza season. Non-influenza virus activity continues to decline. ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) and emergency departments (EDs) increased slightly this week but appear to have plateaued. Influenza virus detections, notifications and percent positivity remain stable. The number and proportion of detections due to influenza B (63%) declined […]

Infection prevention and control in residential and community aged care is a pocket book developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Department of Health https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/guidelines-publications/d1034 The pocket book provides information on the key principles of infection prevention and control for the residential aged care (RAC) and community aged care (CAC) community.  It provides advice to Assistants in Nursing, Community Care Assistants, Personal Care Workers and ancillary staff about integrating the principles of infection prevention and […]

Virus WAtch Week Ending 26 July 2015 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Taken together, direct and indirect indicators suggest that influenza virus activity may have now peaked, earlier than in recent seasons. Non-influenza virus activity also declined this week. ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) decreased this week and presentations to sentinel emergency departments (EDs) were steady. Influenza virus detections, notifications and percent positivity appear to have reached a peak. Influenza B (68%) and influenza A/H3N2 (29%) viruses […]