Healthcare associated infection surveillance

Healthcare associated infection surveillance

Our surveillance program focuses on infections that occur most often in healthcare settings and those that pose the greatest risk to patients. Other processes are monitored because they are important indicators of a range of infection prevention and control measures.

Accurate and reliable data is used to monitor and improve the quality and safety of patient care. It provides an objective measure of standard of infection control practices in hospitals.

To undertake this surveillance, we use information from microbiology laboratories, patient information systems and hospital infection control staff throughout Tasmania. Wherever possible, nationally agreed definitions are used to determine rates. In addition, surveillance data is validated before publication.

We have published several surveillance protocols to ensure systematic data collection and analysis.

Surveillance protocols

Hand hygiene compliance auditing uses the Hand Hygiene Australia methodology outlined at Hand Hygiene Australia

Reports

We publish quarterly Tasmanian public hospital healthcare associated infection surveillance reports, including an annual report at the end of each financial year.

Tasmanian Healthcare Associated Infection Prevention Strategy 2009 - 2011

January 2018