Meeting national recommendations for surgical site infection surveillance: examples and lessons from the Victorian Healthcare-associated Infection Surveillance System
Leon J. Worth A C , Ann L. Bull A , Sue M. Thorpe B and Michael J. Richards AA Victorian Hospital Acquired Infection Surveillance System (VICNISS) Coordinating Centre, 10 Wreckyn Street, North Melbourne, Vic. 3051, Australia.
B Infection Prevention and Control Unit, Peninsula Health, PO Box 52, Frankston, Vic. 3199, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: leon.worth@mh.org.au
Healthcare Infection 14(3) 119-122 https://doi.org/10.1071/HI09106
Published: 26 August 2009
Abstract
In 2008, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care released a report summarising key points and recommendations on the role of surveillance for a range of healthcare-associated infections, including surgical site infections. The Victorian Healthcare-associated Infection Surveillance System (VICNISS) commenced a statewide surveillance strategy in 2002. Components of this strategy are consistent with national priorities. For this and similar programs to be successful there is a need for surgical site infections to be recognised as a key measure of hospital performance. Measures for risk reduction and prevention of surgical site infections can then be planned and implemented.
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