Infection control in the Australian health care setting

Abstract

1,708 members of the Australian Infection Control Association were surveyed to describe the practices of Australian infection control practitioners. The study details the methods infection control practitioners use to co-ordinate and measure nosocomial infections as clinical outcomes of Australian infection surveillance and control programs. Administrators' and clinicians' perceptions of the elements and infrastructure of infection surveillance and control programs and the role of the infection control were measured in 316 hospitals in New South Wales, Australia.

A literature review found that the development of Australian infection surveillance and control programs is behind that of U.S.A and the United Kingdom.

The survey of the infection control practitioners identified that their role and duties varied between facilities as did the time allocated to infection control tasks.

The survey of infection control practitioners demonstrated variation in their levels of skill, education and experience. Infection control practitioners' use and application of evidence and associated skills was examined and found to be limited in relation to clinical decision making and policy development.

The survey also examined the methods infection control practitioners use to undertake surveillance of nosocomial infections. The methods reported indicated non-standard approaches to surveillance activity.

A survey of administrators and clinicians in NSW hospitals was undertaken to identify variation in administrator and clinician perceptions and to describe their level of support for recommended essential infrastructure and criteria for infection surveillance and control programs and the role of the infection control practitioner in accordance with Scheckler's model. The survey indicated divergent views regarding the role of the infection control practitioner and the essential elements of infection surveillance and control programs.

The study identified that education of infection control practitioners is necessary to facilitate standard approaches to co-ordinating infection surveillance and control activity. The development of Australian infection surveillance and control programs require a strategic alliance between stakeholders. to define essential elements of infection surveillance and control programs. In addition, the role of the infection control practitioner must be defined before key stakeholders can agree on the minimum skills, qualifications and experience required by an infection control practitioner.