About infection prevention and control

Tasmanian Infection Prevention and Control

When patients and clients attend hospitals, clinics and surgeries they may come in contact with healthcare associated infections.

These infections are always a potential risk for patients and clients but many of them are preventable.

How to minimise the risks of healthcare associated infections:

• ensure good levels of hand hygiene within facilities
• ensure high levels of environmental hygiene and cleanliness
• educate healthcare workers, patients and the public
• ensure careful and appropriate use of antibiotics
• use basic infection control practices such as standard precautions for the care of all patients
• use transmission-based precautions for patients with certain conditions transmitted by contact, droplet or airborne routes
• provide clinical leadership and organisational support for infection prevention in healthcare facilities
• provide robust governance or reporting structures within organisations to manage infection risks
• undertake surveillance to help understand rates and patterns of healthcare associated infections.

About us: Infection prevention and control

We provide independent professional advice, leadership and information on healthcare associated infections (HAIs) to health professionals, consumers and patients.

Our role is to:

• develop, initiate and facilitate statewide policies, procedures and programs designed to reduce the incidence of HAIs in Tasmania
• establish and sustain surveillance mechanisms to monitor effectiveness of infection prevention interventions
• provide infection prevention and control education and training
• represent Tasmania in prevention and control of healthcare associated infections at national initiatives.

Tasmania has an overarching HAI strategy to coordinate and plan a statewide response to reducing the risk of HAIs.

Download the Tasmanian Healthcare Associated Infection Prevention Strategy 2020-2022

For more information

Email: [email protected]

Post: GPO Box 125 Hobart, 7001, TAS

Phone: 03 6166 0605