Infection Prevention and Control Response and Escalation Framework: Evaluation and application beyond a pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in constant changes to Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) recommendations, impacting clinician capacity to stay up to date. The COVID-19 IPAC Response and Escalation Framework (IPAC Framework), rarely reported or evaluated was developed to provide scalable IPAC guidance during the pandemic to health care in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

Methods: Using a thematic analysis approach, a qualitative study using an online, cross-sectional survey comprising 27 questions was sent to 248 key stakeholders.

Practice development amidst a pandemic: a pilot programme to develop leadership in infection prevention and control professionals.

Purpose: This paper aims to describe the design and evaluation of a pilot leadership development programme for infection prevention and control (IPAC) professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The programme's aim was to improve IPAC knowledge and capacity in the health-care system by developing the leadership skills and capacities of novice and advanced Infection Control Professionals (ICPs), to respond flexibly, and competently, in their expanding and ever-changing roles.

Design/methodology/approach: The leadership programme was piloted with seven nurses, who were part of a clinical nursing team in New South Wales, Australia, over a 12-month period between 2021 and 2022.

Evaluation of health worker acceptance and tolerance of respirators in clinical practice-An Australian perspective.

Background: One of the main infection prevention and control measures introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic was the focused application of respiratory protection to ensure health worker safety and the effective use of personal protective equipment. However, user acceptance of these strategies is paramount in sustainable compliance. This study explores various aspects of respirator use and provides recommendations to improve and maximize health worker safety.

Preparing for the Next Pandemic: An After-Action Review of Infection Prevention and Control Audit Strategies Within Airport and Hotel Quarantine Program.

Background: Effective infection prevention and control (IPAC) practices within the New South Wales (NSW) Airport Operations and Hotel Quarantine Program (Quarantine Program) were required to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 being transmitted to staff, other guests, contractors, and the community.

Method: The Quarantine Program relied on complex logistical arrangements and an end-to-end process that included all steps from the time travelers boarded the returning flight until completion of the quarantine period. This required compliance with relevant IPAC standards historically reserved for health care and the implementation of a quality assurance audit framework.

Implementation of a successful infection prevention and control governance structure and capacity building strategies during COVID-19 pandemic - A brief report.

An analysis of the Clinical Excellence Commissions response to COVID-19 prevention and protection measures identified the need to build on the existing governance process to achieve a more structured and methodical approach. The infection prevention and control measures and strategies implemented within health and nonhealth care, proved to be effective and sustainable with the ability to build additional clinician capacity even during an ongoing pandemic.

Implementation of a respiratory protection program within healthcare facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic- lessons learned.

The use of fit tested respirators in the workplace is required to protect health workers against airborne pathogens. The COVID-19 pandemic required rapid upscaling of fit testing which was achieved using the framework of a respiratory protection program. Implementing and sustaining such a program in the midst of a pandemic was challenging and required clear direction from a lead agency combined with stakeholder engagement.

Modified glove use for contact precautions: Health care workers' perceptions and acceptance.

Background: Patients colonized or infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and or vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus are placed under contact precautions. Contact precautions require patients to be placed in single rooms and their health care workers (HCWs) to wear gowns, aprons and gloves on entry and doffing on exit. Glove use is widely accepted to be associated with poor hand hygiene compliance.

Safe removal of gloves from contact precautions: The role of hand hygiene.

Background: Routine hand hygiene effectively removes methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and/or vancomycin resistant Enterococcus (VRE) from the ungloved hands of healthcare workers (HCWs) who are caring for patients under contact precautions, when exposure to bodily fluids is not expected.

Methods: HCWs' ungloved hands were cultured after hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) or soap-and-water wash after routine clinical care of patients known to be colonized or infected with MRSA or VRE.

Results: Two hundred forty samples from 40 HCWs were tested and found to be culture negative for either MRSA or VRE after contact with patients when 3 pumps of ABHR (0/80) or plain soap-and-water wash (0/80) were used.

Reflection on observation: A qualitative study using practice development methods to explore the experience of being a hand hygiene auditor in Australia.

Background: Within the Australian public health care system, an observation model is used to assess hand hygiene practice in health care workers, culminating in a publicly available healthcare service performance indicator. The intent of this study was for the results to inform the development of a strategy to support individual auditors and local sustainability of the hand hygiene auditing program.

Method: This qualitative study used a values clarification tool to gain an understanding of the experiences of hand hygiene auditors.