The practices that form the basic measures to prevent transmission of infectious diseases within health care environments are divided into standard and transmission-based precautions. When a disease agent is unknown, a symptom-based approach will reduce the risk of transmission to the health care worker and to other patients. For example, if a patient presents with vomiting or diarrhoea or respiratory symptoms (coughing, sneezing and fever) then the appropriate precautions should be implemented immediately, rather than waiting for a definitive diagnosis. The use of standard precautions for all patients is the primary strategy for minimising the transmission of infections in health care settings.It is essential that standard precautions are applied at all times when caring for any patient regardless of their infectious disease status. This is becoming more important as the prevalence of unidentified carriage of multidrug-resistant organism (MRO) in community settings increases. The practices that form part of standard precautions include: Transmission-based precautions are applied in addition to standard precautions for patients suspected or confirmed to be infected with specific organisms of concern. The additional precautions required to manage these infections varies according to the route of transmission (airborne, droplet or contact). The specific additional precautions may involve the use of: Details of these requirements are found in local facility procedure manuals, state guidelines for management of multidrug-resistant organisms and the Australian guidelines for the prevention and control of infection in healthcare. A useful summary of infectious diseases and their modes of transmission and the specific precautions required can be found in the document Infection Control Management of Infectious Diseases (PDF 467KB). SA Health has developed specific advice on: The University of Adelaide have developed several infection prevention and control videos including personal protective equipment (PPE) donning and doffing. This video suite is informed by the Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN) Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Unit donning, doffing and IPC policy. We would like to acknowledge CALHN IPC Unit for their support and clinical guidance. The principles and information contained in these online videos are applicable to all situations where transmission-based precautions and during a pandemic. A PPE donning and doffing poster (PDF 240KB) and infographic (PDF 107KB) are also available. The Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care also has a number of generic resources available from their website, such as a set of standardised signage on standard and transmission-based precautions. SA Health's Infection Control Service also provides educational opportunities for staff with responsibility for infection prevention and control in their facility. For further information on the prevention and management of infections in the healthcare settings, contact the SA Health's Infection Control Service.
Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a practical, evidence-based approach which prevents patients and health workers from being harmed by avoidable infection and as a result of antimicrobial resistance. No one should catch an infection while receiving health care, yet, these infections can spread through outbreaks and many regular care practices, affecting hundreds of millions of people across the world every year. WHO is working with numerous partners to support Member States to deliver clean, quality care for all, through IPC best practices. – About us
Transmission-based precautions (TBP) are used in addition to standard precautions for patients with known or suspected infection or colonization with transmissible...
Standard precautions aim to protect both health workers and patients by reducing the risk of transmission of microorganisms from both recognized and unrecognized...
The WHO global report on infection prevention and control (IPC) provides a global situation analysis of how IPC programmes are being implemented in countries...
This policy brief confirms WHO guidance and policy on injection safety in the context of the extraordinary increase in global injections resulting from...
This policy brief synthesizes WHO guidance and policy on injection safety in the context of the extraordinary increase in global injections resulting from...
The recently published World Health Organization (WHO) Strengthening infection prevention and control in primary care document collates existing standards,...
World Sepsis Day (WSD) was initiated by the Global Sepsis Alliance in 2012. Every year on September 13th, events in all parts of the world raise awareness for sepsis worldwide. There are events for medical professionals, sport activities, photo exhibitions, pink picnics, gala events, dinners, public events such as open houses in hospitals and health care facilities, and of course online events such as the '2nd World Sepsis Congress', and campaigns on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, as well as many more social networks. Browse the official toolkits – free and in several languages – with fact sheets, quizzes, infographics, posters, brochures, video clips, pocket cards, WSD wallpapers, pink picnic visuals, and other event materials. Just download and you will be set for a great event! |