Part D: Infection Prevention and Control

Update November 2020: The following key references within AusHFG Part D have since been updated. These revised resources should to be referred to when considering infection prevention and control as part of the planning and design of healthcare facilities.  These references will be amended in the next iteration of AusHFG Part D.

Previous reference: National Health and Medical Research Council, 2010, Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare. This has now been replaced with: National Health and Medical Research Council, 2019, Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare, Australian Government, Canberra. Link to current document:  https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/australian-guidelines-prevention-and-control-infection-healthcare-2019

Previous reference: Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, 2012, Controlling Healthcare Associated Infections (Factsheet on Standard 3). This has now been replaced with: Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, 2017, National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards. 2nd ed. Preventing and Controlling Healthcare-Associated Infection Standard, ACSQHC, Sydney.  Link to current document: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-04/National-Safety-and-Quality-Health-Service-Standards-second-edition.pdf.

Introduction

Part D Infection Prevention and Control has been written to assist project teams in the planning, design and construction of healthcare facilities. It was developed following a comprehensive review of infection prevention and control literature and with input from experts in the field of infection prevention and control. The information is organised in sections including:

• building elements such as approaches to hand basins and isolation rooms
• the physical environment describing elements such as air handling etc
• surfaces and finishes
• considerations relating to construction and renovation of healthcare facilities to minimise risk of infection.

An updated revision of Part D (Revision 7.0, 1 March 2016) has been uploaded. This revision reflects only minor changes that have been necessary to ensure consistency across all documents.