Tasmanian Acute Public Hospitals Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance Report 21 - Quarter 1 2014

Abstract

This surveillance report describes data relating to a number of key Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) indicators. The Tasmanian Infection Prevention and Control Unit (TIPCU) publish this report quarterly. The TIPCU website (www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/tipcu) contains details of the surveillance program, including the rationale for the indicators surveyed and the methodologies used in data collection, validation and analysis. In addition, an explanatory document has been developed to accompany this surveillance report. Any form of comparison between hospitals should be done with extreme caution and direct comparisons are not recommended. Information about how Tasmanian rates compare with those of other Australian states are provided in the Key Points sections of this report. The Appendices in this report contain more detailed information. The key findings of this report are: • The rate of healthcare associated Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia remains low. • In Quarter 1, 2014, there was an increase in hospital identified Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) and healthcare associated – healthcare facility onset Clostridium difficile infection (HCA – HCF CDI). • The occurrence of vancomycin resistant enterococcus remains low. • The Tasmanian hand hygiene compliance rate increased in the latest data collection period and exceeds the national threshold level.