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
- Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection in the Adult Intensive Care Unit (accessible)
- National Alert System for Critical Antimicrobial Resistances Protocol
- National Alert System for Critical Antimicrobial Resistances Protocol (accessible)
- MRSA acquisition surveillance guideline
- Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia surveillance
- Clostridium difficile infection surveillance
- Vancomycin resistant enterococcus surveillance
- CPE Management and Surveillance Protocol
- Antimicrobial use in rural hospitals
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.
2019
2018
2017
Report No 36 - Quarter 4 2017 (accessible)
Report No 35 - Quarter 3 2017 (accessible)
Report No 34 - Quarter 2 2017 (accessible)
Report No 33 - Quarter 1 2017 (accessible)
2016
Report No 32 - Quarter 4 2016 (accessible)
Report No 31 - Quarter 3 2016 (accessible)
Annual Report No 30 2015-2016 (accessible)
2015
2014
Annual Report No 22 - Quarter 2 2014
2013
2012
Annual Report No 14- September 2012
Examination of CDI in Tasmania - summary (Jul 2012)
2011
2010
2009
Tasmanian Healthcare Associated Infection Prevention Strategy 2009 - 2011
January 2018