SAVELIVES Newsletter February 2015 5 May 2015 – Campaign Theme and Activities “Strengthening health-care systems and delivery – hand hygiene is your entrance door”. This statement embodies all that we know about hand hygiene and how important it is in saving lives wherever vulnerable people are cared for. This is the theme for 5 May 2015! Use this opportunity to demonstrate that clean hands in health care are a quality indicator of overall health-care standards.
Virus WAtch Week Ending 8 February 2015 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Influenza and non-influenza respiratory virus activity remain low and at inter-seasonal levels. ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) and emergency departments (EDs) decreased this week and remain low. Routine and sentinel detections of influenza virus remain low, with influenza A/H3N2 constituting the majority of subtyped viruses; influenza A/H1N1 and influenza B continue to co-circulate. Detections of non-influenza respiratory viruses remain steady and low. Gastroenteritis Presentations to […]
Virus WAtch Week Ending 1 February 2015 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Influenza and non-influenza respiratory virus activity remain low and at inter-seasonal levels. ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) and emergency departments (EDs) remain low. Routine and sentinel detections of influenza virus remain low, with influenza A/H3N2 constituting the majority of subtyped viruses; influenza A/H1N1 and influenza B continue to co-circulate. Detections of non-influenza respiratory viruses increased slightly but remain low overall. Gastroenteritis Presentations to sentinel GPs […]
Virus WAtch Week Ending 25 January 2015 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Influenza and non-influenza respiratory virus activity remain low and at inter-seasonal levels. ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) and emergency departments (EDs) remain low. Routine and sentinel detections of influenza virus remain low, with influenza A/H3N2 constituting the majority of subtyped viruses; influenza A/H1N1 and influenza B continue to co-circulate. Detections of non-influenza respiratory viruses were low. Gastroenteritis Presentations to sentinel GPs remain elevated and above […]
All WA public hospitals and health care facilities are required to immediately commence implementation of the minimum requirements for the safe storage of temperature-sensitive medicines and vaccines in dedicated medication refrigerators as outlined in the Operational Directive OD 0587/15. OD 0587 15 WA Health Safe Use of Medication Refrigerators Policy WA Health Safe Use of Medications Policy
Virus WAtch Week Ending 18 January 2015 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Influenza and non-influenza respiratory virus activity remain low and at inter-seasonal levels. ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) and emergency departments (EDs) remain low. Routine and sentinel detections of influenza virus remain low, with influenza A/H3N2 constituting the majority of subtyped viruses; influenza A/H1N1 and influenza B continue to co-circulate. Detections of non-influenza respiratory viruses were low. Gastroenteritis Presentations to sentinel GPs remain elevated and above […]
There will be a delay to the start of the National Seasonal Influenza Immunisation Program in 2015. There are no firm dates yet for when vaccines will be available, but it is not likely to be until April. More information will be provided in February. The 2015 southern hemisphere influenza vaccine will contain two different strains to the 2014 vaccine, and this double-strain change has resulted in manufacturing delays. Please see additional information in the attached letter below: AS Letter […]
Virus WAtch Week Ending 11 January 2015 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Influenza and non-influenza respiratory virus activity remain low and at inter-seasonal levels. ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) and emergency departments (EDs) remain low. Routine and sentinel detections of influenza virus remain low, with influenza A/H3N2, influenza A/H1N1, and influenza B co-circulating. Detections of non-influenza respiratory viruses were low. Gastroenteritis Gastroenteritis presentations to sentinel EDs decreased this week, but remain above baseline levels. Presentations to sentinel […]
Virus WAtch Week Ending 4 January 2015 Influenza and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) Summary: Influenza and non-influenza respiratory virus activity remain low and at inter-seasonal levels. ILI presentations to sentinel general practitioners (GPs) and emergency departments (EDs) remain low. There were no routine or sentinel detections of influenza virus this week. Detections of non-influenza respiratory viruses continue to fluctuate at low levels. Gastroenteritis Gastroenteritis presentations to sentinel GPs and sentinel EDs remain well above baseline levels. Norovirus detections have declined over […]
The Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC) is collating a response on the draft standard which will be forwarded via the on line response process as well as directly to Standards Australia. The College and Standards Australia is asking for interested parties to review the document and provide comments relating to the sections that you believe need changing or are contradictory. The draft AS1071 document is only valid until 5th February when submissions close. To access the draft copy on the […]
