[Carrie Spinks]

We are in metro Melbourne

Staff only wear masks in the first 3 days of >2 residents testing positive whilst spread is ascertained and of course when providing care to symptomatic or positive residents.
Visitors are only encouraged to wear masks when visiting a symptomatic or positive resident (it is at their own risk)
Our RAT supply from government is running low, but at this stage we offer to relatives and staff until we run out.

Vanessa Watkins
RN, Quality Manager & IPC Lead
Donwood Community & Aged Care Services

11 Diana Street, Croydon 3136

9845 8509 (Mon – Thur)

vwatkins@donwood.com.au

http://www.donwood.com.au

[Carrie Spinks]

Hello,

We don’t RAT our visitors on our mixed ward (Acute/Aged Care) unless there is a higher incidence in the community.

Masks for staff – No unless we are in an outbreak or there is a higher incidence of staff furlough.

Masks for Visitors – it is encouraged for immunocompromised patients or visitors as barrier precautions OR whilst in an outbreak.

We supply RATs for visitors in outbreaks or patients who present to our UCC with respiratory symptoms.

Cheers

Leia Colbert

Infection Prevention and Control, Clinical Nurse Consultant
Orbost Regional Health
104 Boundary Road, Orbost Vic 3888
Phone (03) 5154 6707

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Andryna,

In the southwest of Victoria, we are no longer wearing masks unless in Outbreak.

We are only testing visitors in high peak Covid-19 or other virus in community and yes, we supply to them.

Hope this helps,

Jane

Jane Wilkeson

Infection Prevention Coordinator

ANUM Perioperative Services

03 5232 5120 | 0429 137 279

2-28 Connor Street, Colac, Victoria 3250 jwilkeson@cah.vic.gov.au

http://www.cah.vic.gov.au

Quality Care Close to Home

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Milja

Just a query: Is the resident colonised or have an acute infection?

Retesting would be GP led and based on prev testing dates.

Below are a few links to assist.

‘Aged Care IPC in Focus’ has a great ‘managing MRO in aged care’ presentation, this will assist to manage all MRO: Link https://www.acipc.org.au/members/ipc-in-aged-care/
QLD provide a Residential Aged Care MRO Guide: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0031/719068/mros-info-sheet-residential-care-facilities.pdf

In the aged care setting a risk assessment is required to determine the precautions- as per Aged Care IPC Guide: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/infection-prevention-and-control/infection-prevention-and-control-aged-care

Consider with risk assessment:
If the urine can be contained – resident is continent, or has incontinence aids, or has IDC – transmission risk is reduced.
Isolation is not required if urine can be contained. Mental health must also be a consideration where risk is reduced.
Standard precautions are always in place.
Contact and (if droplet risk) droplet precautions should be applied only when managing urine (toileting, bathing, aid change etc), or handling items contaminated by urine.
Any clothing or linen items contaminated by urine should be placed in a washing soluble bag and linen bag – colour coded infectious – for transport
Items for disposal which are contaminated with urine should be placed in clinical waste – including PPE
Daily room/bathroom clean/disinfection would be required – TGA approved to MRSA
Encourage and assist with resident hand hygiene

Regards Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Anonymous,

Here is a Victorian compost guide – I note that it is 2012 – but still current.

Composting organic waste from healthcare facilities: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/publications/composting-organic-waste-from-healthcare-facilities

May be worth asking site maintenance/gardening teams to see if there are any local guides or requirements.

Regards Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Anonymous

Consider:

Device Cleaning Process
• Devices should be cleaned/disinfected at commencement and completion of every shift, and post use if soiled
• Devices are to be wiped over completely (front, back sides) with the wipe. A new wipe is to be used for each device.
• Leave for a couple of minutes to dry prior to using or storing the device

Manufacturer’s instructions will guide on the appropriate cleaning chemical. Information identified has included either a neutral wipe, 2:1 neutral detergent/disinfectant wipe or alcohol wipe (with pre cleaning)

Regards Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Rosanna,

Here are a couple of web links that will assist to answer your question.

-Core strategies for VRE prevention and control: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-12/core_strategies_for_vre_prevention_and_control_03_12_19.pdf
-TGA Disinfectants and sterilants: https://www.tga.gov.au/how-we-regulate/supply-therapeutic-good/supply-other-therapeutic-goods/disinfectants-and-sterilants

This may assist with cleaning structures….

Environmental cleaning practices in small health service organisations: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-06/environmental_cleaning_practices_in_small_health_organisations.pdf

All the best

Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Jewel,

Thanks for sharing.

Consideration of the caddy going into room to room – would this pose risk of infection transmission caused by a contaminated caddy where residents may be in an incubation period, or the environment has not been cleaned of all organisms as example?
Perhaps additional precautions could be considered:
Considerations for suspected or confirmed infectious rooms /areas- i.e. not for use?
Consider a cleaning regime/process for the caddy?

Perhaps refer to the following docs to guide ABHR placement and tips for compliance:

Aged Care IPC Guide -Product placement pg. 50+
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-08/The-Aged-Care-Infection-Prevention-and-Control-Guide.pdf

National Hand Hygiene Initiative Implementation Guide – Product placement pg. 10.
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-07/nhhi_implementation_guide_july_2023.pdf

The use of this document would need to be adjusted to suit aged care – consideration to ABHR placement should be risk assessed, especially in areas where there are residents with cognitive deficit.

Consideration for personal clip-on ABHR is another thought – but expensive.

Education on 5 hand moments, quizzes, puzzles and cross words make HH learning a bit more fun – agree with signage as reminders.

Is there potential to place PPE supplies more readily available for staff – in corridor cupboards for example? Easy access to aprons as well as gloves is great practice.

Hope that helps

Carrie

• This reply was modified 1 year, 5 months ago by Carrie Spinks.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 5 months ago by Carrie Spinks.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 5 months ago by Carrie Spinks.

[Carrie Spinks]

Thanks Luis,

I think this statement would need to be evidence based referenced.

Thanks kindly

Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Luis,

Thank you

Some information for consideration:

TGA link: https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/resource/guidance/hand-sanitisers-information-manufacturers-suppliers-and-advertisers

Not all hand sanitisers can be promoted for healthcare
The only types of hand sanitisers that can be legally promoted as being suitable for use in medical or health services are those hand sanitisers that are:
-included in the ARTG
-captured by the Exclusion Determination.
For a hand sanitiser to be advertised as being able to kill a specific organism (e.g. E.coli) or as being virucidal, it must be included in the ARTG. In addition, the TGA must have approved the use of this type of claim in relation to the hand sanitiser being advertised.

Australian TGA health care approved hand rubs use alcohol based
-Ethanol hand sanitisers
-Isopropyl alcohol hand sanitisers
-Chlorhexidine

Monograph link: https://www.tga.gov.au/otc-medicine-monograph-hand-sanitisers

NHHI link: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/infection-prevention-and-control/national-hand-hygiene-initiative/what-hand-hygiene/alcohol-based-hand-rubs

Regards Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Louis,

I have not been able to find too much information on this sorry.

Victoria Department of Health have a health care bathroom guide:
https://www.health.vic.gov.au/dementia-friendly-environments/bathrooms

-Shower screens stop water from spreading, important if showers are next to toilets. Shower curtains are better than fixed or rigid screens but are harder to clean.
-People value privacy. Half-height shower curtains have privacy for those seated and keep staff members drier.
-Grab rails in showers should be effectively colour-contrasted against walls for good visibility.

The AHF Guidelines state that curtains are optional depending on the IPC policy https://www.healthfacilityguidelines.com.au/component/adl-bathroom-1
They are factored into their data and layout sheets

There are antimicrobial shower curtains that can be purchased – but these still require cleaning.

The risk of potential reservoir of microbial pathogens in an aged care facility or home care would be lower if single use bathroom. Other risk considerations may be trip or falls hazards or resident/client holding on to the curtain for balance if the curtain and brackets are not collapsable.

Hope that helps

Carrie

[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Anonymous,

Please see information on gloving on pg 59 of the Aged Care IPC Guide: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-08/The-Aged-Care-Infection-Prevention-and-Control-Guide.pdf

“Vinyl gloves are not recommended for the clinical care of older people.”

Im not sure about the risk statistics – but this is a clear answer for non-use.

Hope that helps Carrie

[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

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