The 2021 Preventing and Controlling Infections Standard supersedes the 2017 Preventing and Controlling Healthcare-Associated Infection Standard. The new standard provides further support to health service organisations to prevent, control and respond to infections that cause outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics, including novel and emerging infections. The changes made to the standard clarify existing requirements and reflect the lessons from the response to COVID-19. A factsheet shows the differences between the new standard and the previous standard. Whilst retaining a focus on patient safety, […]

Mandatory reporting starts today, 15 June 2021, for all approved providers of residential aged care services to report and provide weekly updates every Tuesday on the COVID-19 vaccination status of their aged care workforce. Starting today, 15 June 2021, all approved providers of residential aged care services must report every Tuesday. It will become mandatory for providers of in-home and community aged care services in the coming weeks. Reporting is via the My Aged Care portal for providers. The new […]

The Management of Peripheral Intravenous Catheters Clinical Care Standard was launched on Wednesday 26th of May, 2021. The new standard was developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care in consultation with consumers and healthcare professionals. This is very timely following the recent publication of the HISWA Aggregate Report for the January – March 2021 quarter which reported concerns about the increase in Healthcare Associated Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infections (HA-SABSI) for the second consecutive quarter and the highest […]

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has granted provisional approval to AstraZeneca Pty Ltd for its COVID-19 vaccine. The Product Information, FAQs and information on labelling and batch testing are also available on the COVID-19 vaccines hub. Information on COVID-19 vaccines and the priority rollout to aged care providers, workers and residents is available here. Further information on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout is also available on the Department of Health website.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has granted provisional approval to Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd for its COVID-19 vaccine. The Product Information, FAQs and information on labelling and batch testing are also available on the COVID-19 vaccines hub. Further information on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout is available on the Department of Health website

As of 29 January 2020, ‘Human coronavirus with pandemic potential’ has been declared an urgently notifiable disease under Part 9 of the Public Health Act 2016. It was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation on 11 March 2020. Any person who meets the following criteria are required to isolate themselves at home for 14 days from the date of travel or close contact. Criteria: Overseas or interstate travel in the past 14 days OR Close or casual contact […]

Aged care homes are important settings to better understand both antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use. Reports to date indicate that high levels of inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing and use occur in these settings, providing opportunities for improved antimicrobial prescribing. The 2018 report has recently been published and can be accessed at https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/antimicrobial-resistance/antimicrobial-use-and-resistance-australia-surveillance-system-aura/antimicrobial-prescribing-australian-residential-aged-care

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) Secretariat has advised that the Australian Immunisation Handbook (the Handbook) was updated on 4 October 2019 to reflect changes approved by the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, on 20 September 2019. A summary of the updates is available at the following link: https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/about-the-handbook/updates Note: Changes include updates to 19 chapters of the Handbook, and various administrative updates to improve the usability of the Handbook, including updates to hyperlinks throughout the Handbook.

The Antibiotic Guidelines have been extensively revised and will now be published on eTG complete in real time as new evidence emerges https://tgldcdp.tg.org.au/etgcomplete

Today the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) released the revised Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare (2019). These Guidelines provide a nationally accepted approach to infection prevention and control, focusing on core principles and priority areas for action. The guidelines are underpinned by a risk-management framework, ensuring they can be applied to a wide range of healthcare settings including hospitals, day procedure units, office‑based practice, long-term care facilities, remote area health services, home and community […]