[Carrie Spinks]

Thank you Luis

The guidelines referred to above are the Aged Care IPC Guide: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-08/The-Aged-Care-Infection-Prevention-and-Control-Guide.pdf

Hi Leasa,

Tip: We are moving on from the homely environment to the safe environment post COVID 19 and hence guides now recommend easy see and identify IPC equipment.

See page 50 of the Aged Care IPC Guide for ABHR placement. To note is also the placement ‘risk assessment’ – this would be required to be used in areas where there are residents with cognitive deficit and risk.

The Aged Care IPC Guide also addresses PPE page 54 – there may be some great information for you here. Placement of PPE for donning is best placed outside of the resident’s room at the entrance, with signage on how to don in accordance with the means of organism transmission – contact, droplet, airborne.

Hope that helps

Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Hello,

There is a huge number of resources on the ACIPC resource aged care page link: https://www.acipc.org.au/aged-care/resources-australasian-aged-care/

as well as the general resource page link: https://www.acipc.org.au/resources/ipc-resources-for-all-australian-health-care-services/

further on the collaborative health care page link: https://www.acipc.org.au/resources/

Hope that helps

Kind regards
Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Lorraine

An earlier RAT testing discussion (post) may be of assistance.

https://www.acipc.org.au/members/forums-members/topic/rat-testing-after-april-2024/?view=all

Regards Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

TGA – antibiotics

https://tgldcdp.tg.org.au/guideLine?guidelinePage=Antibiotic&frompage=etgcomplete

AB Summary Table

https://www.tg.org.au/news/antibiotic-summary-table/

Hope this helps

Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Sam,

Victoria has some good spill kit information in their managing spills guideline.

Managing spills of blood and body fluids and substances
https://www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/managing-spills-of-blood-and-body-fluids-and-substances

Its organisation dependant, however, a process to check the contents (against a contents list) annually and post use/refill is often practice. At this time PPE not used in the year could be changed to ensure capability- if concerned. All PPE has a life span depending on the brand purchased – but often this falls in the 3-year mark.

Hope this helps.

Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

IPC Lead role description examples can be located –

Webinar Series Resources
Link: https://www.acipc.org.au/aged-care/resources-australasian-aged-care/

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Michele,

All the webinars are recorded and located on the CoP webinar page of the ACIPC aged care.

Link: https://www.acipc.org.au/acipc-aged-care-community-of-practice-webinar-series/

All up an coming aged care CoP webinars and their recordings are located on this page.

There are also many resources, aged care connexion and other recorded webinars for the aged care setting

Link https://www.acipc.org.au/aged-care/

Kind regards Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Victoria,

Best practice would be single resident use – i.e. resident has their own.

When this is not possible there may be a local guideline to reflect on: below are a couple of examples with directions on how to manage, cover and clean hot packs.

NSW: https://www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/SESLHDGL%20073%20-%20Application%20of%20Heat%20or%20Cold%20Therapy.pdf

WA: https://www.wacountry.health.wa.gov.au/~/media/WACHS/Documents/About-us/Policies/Hot-and-Cold-Gel-Pack-Application-Procedure—Albany-Hospital.pdf?thn=0

Manufacturer’s instructions would guide the cleaning practice, but here is a recommendation from the WA guide:
Following use, clean with a pre-impregnated disposable neutral detergent wipe or if cleaning and disinfection is required e.g. for patient under transmission precautions, use a pre-impregnated disposable detergent and disinfectant wipe.

Re pack cover/protection: WA guide – Hot and cold packs must be used with a cover and are not to be applied directly to the skin. NSW guide: Hot packs must not be placed on direct contact with the patients’ skin. Wrap the heat pack in a disposable wipe or special purpose non-woven pouch (e.g. Livingstone). Alternatively, wrap hot pack in two towels and place in pillow slip to prevent burns.

Hope this helps.

Regards Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi All,

Some considerations around this matter:

Providers are well placed to have a HR procedure for mask exemption, including different scenarios.

There are no current Public Health Directions in effect requiring someone to wear a face mask.

However, during periods where there is high circulation of a respiratory organism, (demonstrated by increased case numbers and outbreaks in an area/region), as well as a vulnerable population (older person and RACF), care providers may risk assess the situation to require their staff to wear surgical masks in the facility – with the aim to reduce transmission. In this situation and where a staff member has requested exemption, the reason should be considered – i.e. is there a skin allergy/pressure issue -trialling differing masks and brands, or using a barrier cream, taking breaks from consistent use – i.e. risk assess when the mask is worn. Where there may be respiratory issues/asthma, consider work placement in area where there is less risk (and no requirement to wear mask) to others and person exempting.
Note: If the risk assessment has been made that masks are required, the absence of masks poses risk to resident, others and self.

In the event that there is a suspected or known infection or facility outbreak of a respiratory (droplet/airborne) infection, we are guided by national, state/territory IPC guidelines to don surgical (droplet) or N95 (airborne) mask. The risk of transmission is higher in this scenario – then above. In this situation and where a staff member has requested exemption, and all avenues have been exhausted to find a suitable mask, consideration to a work location with less risk- i.e. another facility, work outdoors, work from home.
The absence of the mask poses risk to residents, others and self.

Regards Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Added by moderator from Infexion Conexion response

Hi Melissa

I assume this is for an outbreak situation? My understanding is that if you have an outbreak and are unable to protect yourself wearing the appropriate mask that you are not able to work in that area due to the high risk of getting the infection.

You would have to be furloughed or work somewhere else that did not require PPE for protection. It is duty of care, WHS, to protect the staff members by providing them with appropriate PPE. Unless they signed a waiver saying they are happy to work unprotected I would think this is your only option.

Kind regards

Yvonne

Yvonne Andrews

Clinical Nurse Consultant

IPC Lead

Care Development Unit

Residential

Baptist Care Canberra

14 Wormald St,

Symonston ACT 2609

P: (02) 6195 3119

M: 0482 180 333

E: YAndrews@baptistcare.org.au

“I work Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm”

[Carrie Spinks]

Additional question:

What is the expectation for onsite? Is that everyday? The IPC lead role is daily in regards to provision of IPC advice, support and observation while undertaking the main employed role. Allocated time is required specifically for the role to undertake training, attend education/meetings, undertake audits, promotion, documentation, outbreak plans and reviews etc.

The name of the course for the IPC leads through ACIPC is the Foundations of IPC https://www.acipc.org.au/education/foundations-of-ipc/

Further questions unrelated to the IPC role:

Where is the conference: Melbourne Nov 17-20th 2024 – Sunday 17th-is the Aged Care IPC Workshop and over the main conference there are aged care sessions. The conference is online, including the workshop https://acipcconference.com.au/

Challenges have been experienced with staff claiming exemptions to wearing PPE, namely masks, challenges that escalate during outbreaks. How best to manage?
This is an OH&S matter as well as potential risks to others by not wearing a mask. It will be organistion procedure dependant. Where droplet or airbourne precautions are recomended for the protection against an organism, this is the practice should be undertaken for the safety of all. In the event of mask exemption, this would need to be risk assessed – consideration to working in an alternate area or off site where risk is reduced, or taking leave; trialing varied TGA approved masks to see whether there may be a better fit.

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi All,

The new Communicable Diseases Network Australia. National Outbreak Management Guideline for Acute Respiratory Infection (including COVID-19, influenza and RSV) in Residential Aged Care Homes. Version 2.0 June 2024 may be of assistance as discusses the use of the 3 viruses testing RATS (COVID, Influenza, RSV) for symptomatic residents and staff,

https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-06/national-guideline-for-the-prevention-control-and-public-health-management-of-outbreaks-of-acute-respiratory-infection-in-residential-aged-care-homes.pdf

Kind regards Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Regina,

Thanks for reaching out.

The ACIPC community of practice webinar 27th June is addressing this topic and examples of duty lists, and discussion will be had in regard to creating a document suited to your facility. Could I recommend that you come along to this, as well as seeking assistance from our colleagues.

Link: https://www.acipc.org.au/acipc-aged-care-community-of-practice-webinar-series/

Regards Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Posted from Infexion Conexion to Aged care Conexion by moderator.

Good afternoon, all,

We use retractable needles for most of our SC and IMs and if retractable needles cannot be used, we use standard- small yellow sharps bin to dispose of the sharp at the point of care.

Retractable needles are always used for Reusable insulin pens.

I hope this helps a bit.

Kind Regards

Fazila Sofric

Regional Support Manager- Metro South

SUPPORT SERVICES 2078 Logan Road, Upper Mt Gravatt Q 4122

T 07 3340 3200 | M 0428 926 300 | E fazila.sofric@sccqld.com.au | http://www.sccqld.com.au

[Carrie Spinks]

Posted from Infexion Conexion to Aged care Conexion by moderator.

Hi Claire,

We use retractable devices where possible. And carry sharps containers to point of administration for disposal.

Cheers,                                            ​​​​
                                                    
Melissa Ostrouhoff
Clinical Governance Manager
                                   
Palm Lake Care
 melissao@palmlake.com.au
0477706665
Central Support Office, 3 Goodooga Drive, Bethania, QLD
 https://palmlakecare.com.au/

• This reply was modified 8 months ago by Carrie Spinks.
• This reply was modified 8 months ago by Carrie Spinks.

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