New report finds older Australians given more antimicrobials than wider community.  While overall, Australians are using antimicrobials less than before, there is evidence that these medicines are being prescribed at higher rates for people aged over 65, and even higher rates for people living in residential aged care homes (RACH). Antimicrobials include all antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitic agents which are used to treat and prevent infections caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. These important findings are […]

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has released two implementation guides for health service organisations that are transitioning to AS 5369:2023 from either of the two standards that the new standard supersedes. Transitioning from AS/NZS 4187:2014 to AS 5369:2023 Transitioning from AS/NZS 4815:2006 to AS 5369:2023

The Commission has released the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards Guide for Healthcare Services (the Guide). The Guide provides practical support for healthcare services to implement the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards. The Commission consulted widely with healthcare services, consumers, professional and peak bodies and Primary Health Networks in developing these resources. Download the Guide at https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/publications-and-resources/resource-library/nsqpch-standards-guide-healthcare-services

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) has released the Aged Care Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Guide.  It is intended to support aged care organisations to meet the infection prevention and control (IPC) actions of the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards and to minimise the risk of infection for older people and the workforce. The Guide is informed by the Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare with content and key principles […]

This report presents the findings from the annual Aged Care National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey (NAPS). It analyses resident infection and antimicrobial use data reported by Australian aged facilities that participated in the survey. AC NAPS continues to play a pivotal role in Australian residential aged care facilities (RACFs) as part of their infection prevention and control (IPC) and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs. A total of 743 RACFs participated in the 2022 survey, an increased number from 2021 (n=690).  All provider […]

The Department of Health and Aged Care recently published an Aged Care Alert advising that while COVID-19 and influenza cases are rising in residential aged care homes, vaccination rates are low, reminding aged care providers of their responsibility for making vaccines easily available to residents. The Australian Government published the aged care residents’ COVID-19 vaccination rates, by aged care home on Monday 17 June. It is anticipated publication of the COVID-19 vaccination rates will help aged care residents, their families […]

The latest version 2 (June 2024) of the CDNA National Outbreak Management Guideline for Acute Respiratory Infection (including COVID-19, influenza and RSV) in Residential Aged Care Homes has been published. Available at https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/national-guidelines-for-the-prevention-control-and-public-health-management-of-outbreaks-of-acute-respiratory-infection-in-residential-care-facilities?language=en These guidelines are provided to assist residential aged care homes by providing best practice information for the prevention and management of outbreaks of acute respiratory infection (including COVID-19, influenza and RSV). These guidelines were developed to create a single unified guidance to support a risk-based approach for […]

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has released the 2023 CARAlert annual report, which provides analyses of data submitted to the National Alert System for Critical Antimicrobial Resistances (CARAlert). CARAlert collects information on priority organisms that are uncommon in Australia but have critical resistance to last-line antimicrobials (CARs). The report shows seasonal and geographic trends in CARs across acute and community settings as reported by laboratories that voluntarily participate in CARAlert. Key findings include: There was […]

From today, the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards (Primary and Community Healthcare Standards) will become the benchmark for accreditation assessments for private dental practices. A range of resources are available on the Commission’s website to support practices to prepare for accreditation to the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards, including: Fact sheets and advisories Mapping of the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards to the NSQHS Standards first edition Information on the accreditation process. A suite of useful […]

World Hand Hygiene Day aims to maintain global promotion, visibility and sustainability of hand hygiene in health care and to bring people together in support of hand hygiene improvement around the world. On World Hand Hygiene Day the World Health Organization (WHO) encourages health and aged care workers to build and share their knowledge about hand hygiene and infection prevention and control.  Everyone can contribute by supporting implementation of the National Hand Hygiene Initiative in Australian health and aged care services. The […]