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Guidelines for infection control in health care facilities

TitleDescription Issued date
Management of patients with Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI) (PDF, 137KB) The guideline provides steps for the management of Queensland Health patients diagnosed with Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI). May 2019
Patient management response if Legionella detected in water supply (PDF, 104KB) This guidelines provides information to facilitate an effective response for patient management if Legionella is detected in the water supply. January 2014
Management of exposures to blood and body fluids (PDF, 464KB) This guideline provides the minimum recommended proceudres for the immediate assessment, management and follow-up of individuals who have been exposed (or suspect they have been exposed) to blood borne viruses, and recommendations for initiation of post-exposure prophylaxis in occupational settings. January 2017
Surgical skin disinfection guideline (PDF, 159KB) This guideline provides an overview of surgical skin preparation and the rationale for the selection and use of skin disinfection within the operating suite. December 2015
Vaccination of healthcare workers (PDF, 390KB) This guideline provides information to support Queensland Health in the development and implementation of a workforce vaccination program in accordance with national guidelines and the Health service directive: Vaccine preventable disease screening for contractors, students and volunteers. It also provides advice on acceptable forms of evidence confirming vaccination or that an individual is not susceptible to the specified vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs). July 2016
Health Facilities Communicable Disease Outbreak Preparedness, Readiness, Response and Recovery  (PDF 822 kB) This guideline provides recommendations regarding best practice for managing outbreaks of communicable disease (whether notifiable or not) in Queensland Health facilities. November 2022
Management of multi-resistant organisms (MROs) (PDF, 195KB) This guideline provides recommendations regarding best practice to support the prevention and management of multi-resistant organisms (MROs) in health care facilities. December 2017
Bare Below the Elbows (PDF, 65KB) This guideline provides recommendations to support the application of programs for bare below the elbows for the enhancement of effective hand hygiene by healthcare workers. October 2017
Surveillance of healthcare associated infections (PDF, 57KB) This guideline informs Queensland Health staff of the recommended minimum requirements for the surveillance of healthcare associated infections (HAI), and related data. June 2012
Recommendations for the prevention of infection in intra-vascular device (IVD)

Download guidelines and point of care tools for intravascular device management:

Appendix 1: Tunnelled CV specific information

Appendix 2: PICC specific information

Appendix 3: Percutaneous CVC specific information

Appendix 4: PORT or Port-a-cath specific information (Totally Implanted Central Venous Access Port)

Appendix 5: Haemodialysis catheter specific information

Appendix 6: Peripheral intravenous catheter specific information

Appendix 7: Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection investigation checklist

December 2019

Explanatory note: A guideline is a document that aims to streamline particular processes according to a set routine. By definition, following a guideline is never mandatory. Guidelines are an essential part of the larger process of governance. These guidelines are based on a review of evidence by experts who reach a consensus on practical approaches to diagnosis, management or treatment. Their aim is to standardise medical care, to raise the quality of care and to reduce several kinds of risk. Guidelines may be used by any facility to make the actions of its employees or departments more predictable, and presumably of higher quality.

Last updated: 22 July 2020