[Carrie Spinks]

Good afternoon,

To assist with this use the Care Delivery Evidence Collection Tool (CDECT) resources which have been updated and published by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission recently.

Link: https://www.acipc.org.au/cdect-resources-updated-by-commission/

The changes have been provided in a post prev titled: CDECT documents and IPC related review

Link: https://www.acipc.org.au/members/forums-members/topic/cdect-documents-and-ipc-related-review/

Regards Carrie

• This reply was modified 2 weeks ago by Carrie Spinks.
• This reply was modified 2 weeks ago by Carrie Spinks.

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Luis,

Also wanted to present this resource:

Could it be Sepsis – Sepsis Australia – https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/resources/could-it-be-sepsis-easy-read

Regards Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Liza,

Guidance does not specifically ban linen chutes in healthcare facilities; however, national IPC principles require healthcare organisations to minimise the dispersal of microorganisms during linen handling, contain contaminated linen at the point of use, and prevent environmental contamination. These principles are reflected in the Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare, Laundry Practice Standards, Australasian Health Facility Guidelines and NSW jurisdictional guidance documents, which emphasise minimal agitation of soiled linen and prevention of aerosol contamination. Consequently, traditional gravity-fed linen chute systems are frequently considered inconsistent with contemporary IPC risk-reduction strategies in healthcare environments, particularly acute care settings.
References:
• Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. (2019). Australian guidelines for the prevention and control of infection in healthcare. https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/resources/australian-guidelines-prevention-and-control-infection-healthcare
• Australasian Health Infrastructure Alliance. (2025). Australasian Health Facility Guidelines: Part D – Infection prevention and control. https://healthfacilityguidelines.com.au/
• Clinical Excellence Commission. (2024). Infection prevention and control precautions. NSW Health. https://www.cec.health.nsw.gov.au/keep-patients-safe/infection-prevention-and-control/infection-prevention-and-control-precautions
• Standards Australia. (2024). AS 4146:2024 Laundry practice. Standards Australia.

Hope that helps

Regards Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

This is a fantasitc initiative Luis

This article may assist with your journey: Sepsis in Older Adults in Long-Term Care Facilities: Challenges
in Diagnosis and Management: https://files.commons.gc.cuny.edu/wp-content/blogs.dir/5363/files/2020/11/Sepsis-in-Older-Adults-in-Long-Term-Care-Facilities-Challengesin-Diagnosis-and-Management.pdf

Regards Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Liza

Under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards – Standard 3.2.2

Broken plates, bowls, cups, mugs -Dispose into a designated rigid broken crockery/glass container or heavy-duty general waste bin
Broken glassware-Dispose into a labelled broken glass container or sharps-style rigid container
Damaged knives or blades-Remove from service and place into approved sharps or rigid metal disposal container

Reference: Food Standards Australia New Zealand: https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/business/food-safety-standards?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Biological sharps container is not generally used for broken kitchen items. However, if there is contamination with blood or body fluids on the broken item, a biological sharps container can be used – within capacity. For example; where there has been an injury and there is blood on a broken knife blade- this can be risk assessed as biological waste and disposed in sharps bin.

Hope that helps

Regards Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Liza,

All SPC practices should be provided in a management procedure/policy. The procedure needs to reflect current best practice/guidelines.
HCW should refer to the procedure to ensure their practice is correct and inline with the organisations wants.

Hope that helps

Regards Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Narelle,

To my understanding:

In Australia, aged care homes are required to monitor antimicrobial use and effects primarily to ensure clinical safety and reduce antimicrobial resistance, rather than specifically to monitor the direct financial cost of the drugs. However, monitoring for appropriate use and adverse events inherently involves looking at the financial cost-effectiveness of antimicrobials (in this case antibiotics), as inappropriate use is considered a waste of resources.

Direct Medication Costs: Cost of expensive, broad-spectrum antibiotics compared to more appropriate, targeted, and generally cheaper agents.

Hence, reviewing the cost of all antibiotics against the cost of those that were prescribed inappropriately – will provide the cost of wasted resources. If high, this will highlight the need for change to ensure clinical safety.

e.g.
AB costs total= $3000
AB inappropriate agent or prescribed costs = $2000

3000-2000 = 1000

If correct prescribing had occurred the cost of AB should have been $1000
$2000 is high demonstrating high wasted resource use and high inappropriate prescribing.

Laboratory/Diagnostic Costs: Identifying costs associated with unnecessary pathology tests or prolonged investigation can also be reviewed.

Regards Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Thank you Anitha,

There are JD examples for IPC leads on the ACIPC website – these can be adjusted to suit the home or organisation.
See IPC lead role – Link:https://www.acipc.org.au/aged-care/aged-care-ipc-templates-and-tools/

Hopfully there may be something to assist with aged care coordinators role in NZ.

Regards Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Liza,

Unfortunately at times sharps (needles, razors, ampules etc) are found in soiled laundry. The sharps bin in the laundry  enables at the point, safe disposal – rather than transport to a sharps container else where.

All sharps container requirements would need to be upheld – i.e. height, fixed, plastic material compliant, filling line, container close and removal.

Regards Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Leonor,

The Australian Guidelines are written from evidence based practice.

The guideline links and pg number are placed in the above post and the reference numbers included in the information cut – for you to review.

Kind regards Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Sana,

I can only speak from previous roles and care environments.

Certainly surveillance was taken on wound infection types – looking for trends, practices that may cause trends and changes to practice to minimise infections – then re audit.

Results were raised at MAC and IPC/Governance meetings

Supply and storage of wound care products was audited 1/4ly

RN/EN received onsite/omline wound care/AT education and undertook annual competencies – as appropriate. Records of attendance and competencies maintained.

The facilities had several trolleys – 1-2 per wing – these were required to be cleaned pre and post use – no supplies left on the trolleys and there was no draws

The final question is to large to answer in a post.

Hope this helps a little

Regards Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Liza,

This is certainly a converstaion to be had with pharmacist and GP. Consider raising this in a MAC meeting for the overall management of a resident with recurring UTI.

Consider using the UTI resources to guide practice: To Dip or Not to Dip User Guide to the Clinical Pathway
for older people in aged care homes: https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/sites/default/files/media/guide-clinical-pathway-aged-care-homes-suspected-utis.pdf

Regards Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Yvonne,

There are two types of fit testing Quantitative (specialised equipment by trained persons, providers can contract these services) and Qualitative (machines providers purchase – can be influenced by the mask wearer).

Fit testing is recommended across national IPC guidelines and Safe Work guidelines.

The Aged care IPC guide addesses fit testing and fit checking on page 58: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-08/The-Aged-Care-Infection-Prevention-and-Control-Guide.pdf

The Australian IPC Guidelines address fit testing in Section 3.2.4
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/infection-prevention-and-control/australian-guidelines-prevention-and-control-infection-healthcare

Safe Work Australia provides guidance, while specific state regulators (like SafeWork NSW/QLD/WA) monitor compliance.

Consideration to: where a facility has airborne transmission infections requiring the use of N95 mask and the N95 mask is provided – the mask should be fit tested to individual staff to ensure safety.

A strong documented and evidence based performance fit checking program under a Respiratory Protection Program, could be discussed with state Work Safe.

Regards Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Thanks Yvonne

Often a great way to go, having IPC Lead assistance through Champions.

To note: if this is something facilities are considering the ACIPC Aged Care Short course is a wonderful course specifically for aged care and able to IPC upskill staff no matter what area they work in aged care – cleaning, catering, care, admin, management.

Here is the link: https://www.acipc.org.au/education/short-course/

Kind regards Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Yvonne,

AS 4146:2024 is a laundry practice standard covering handling, laundering, storage and transport of textiles and includes guidance on sorting, thermal/chemical disinfection, drying and storage. In regards to washing frequencies it allows facilities to set local laundry policy based on risk, without providing a 24hr rule to washing.

Aged-Care IPC Guide and the Australian IPC Guidlines expect laundry and linen handling to follow the relevant laundry standard and to be governed by local risk assessment and policy — e.g. outbreak situations or contamination with body products – vomit / urine/ faeces / wound exudate require infectious handling and immediate laundering.

Best pactice: Towels that are visibly soiled, contaminated with bodily fluids, or that remain damp between uses must be laundered immediately. Towels used by a single resident may be reused provided they dry between uses and are laundered according to facility schedule and AS 4146:2024 requirements.

References:
AS 4146:2024 Laundry practice -https://store.standards.org.au/product/as-4146-2024?amp%3Bamp%3Butm_campaign=standards-catalogue&amp%3Bamp%3Butm_medium=referral&utm_
Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare-https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/infection-prevention-and-control/australian-guidelines-prevention-and-control-infection-healthcare
The Aged Care IPC Guide – safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-08/The-Aged-Care-Infection-Prevention-and-Control-Guide.pdf
A Healthy Environment- https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/staying-healthy-guidelines/healthy-environment?utm_

Regards Carrie

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