Infection prevention and control guidance (including PPE advice)

This page links Queensland clinicians to the latest COVID-19 PPE and infection control information.

Latest updates

Overarching Queensland Health guidance

• Infection prevention and control guidelines for the management of COVID-19 in healthcare settings (UPDATED 22/06/2022) (PDF 1300 kB) (Source: Queensland Health)
  • Major review conducted with aim of future-proofing Guidelines, with careful consideration of the existing suite of QH PPE Guidance, duplication removed, all links checked and updated. Current evidence, other State jurisdiction documents, CDNA SoNG, ICEG guidelines and complementary guidance reviewed. Restructured sections in line with Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare 2019 – Standard Precaution detailed, followed by Transmission Based Precautions. ** CHANGE OF TERM ** – “P2/N95 Respirator” has been replace throughout with the term “Particulate filter respirator”/”PFR” to be consistent with ICEG Guidance, with the exception of the term “P2/N95 Respirator” existing in another document referred to, or where a “P2” or “N95” respirator is specifically detailed. See Version Summary at front of document for further details on other extensive changes, which are all highlighted in yellow.
• Managing healthcare workers exposed to or with COVID-19 (UPDATED 5/05/2022) (PDF 294 kB)
  This document outlines the procedure to be followed by authorised senior managers of Queensland Health and Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) when determining work permissions and restrictions for healthcare workers who are either exposed to or have tested positive to COVID-19.
• Recommended approach to assessing close contact exposures to COVID-19 in the hospital setting (PDF 178 kB)
  Healthcare workers remain at increased risk of exposure to COVID-19 through their work, despite mitigations such as vaccination, environmental controls, PPE, and early identification of / appropriate transmission-based precautions for patients with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 infection. Infection control teams need to assess the risk of COVID exposures in hospital and manage accordingly in a consistent manner. This document facilitates a consistent approach between facilities and supports Infection Control Practitioners in their role.
• Management of COVID-19 outbreaks in hospital setting guideline (PDF 531 kB) (Source: Queensland Health)
  This document provides interim guidance on the public health management of an outbreak of COVID-19 in a Queensland Health hospital setting.

PPE escalation guidance

• Escalation of personal protective equipment in healthcare delivery, community health and in-home care settings, correctional services (UPDATED 28/06/2022) (PDF 413 kB) (Source: Queensland Health)
• Escalation of personal protective equipment in residential aged care and disability accommodation services (UPDATED 28/06/2022) (PDF 312 kB)
• Escalation of personal protective equipment usage in COVID-19 vaccine clinics (UPDATED 28/06/2022) (PDF 218 kB)

Respiratory protective equipment

• Fit Testing of particulate filter respirators in respiratory protection programs Guidance (UPDATED 25/01/2022) (PDF 554 kB) (Source: Queensland Health)
• Facial Injury and Respiratory Protective Equipment Guidance (NEW 25/01/2022) (PDF 291 kB) (Source: Queensland Health)
• Guideline for CleanSpace HALO (v2) (PDF 766 kB) (Source: Queensland Health)

Safe use of PPE

Posters/infographics

• Signage for combined airborne and contact precautions
• Signage for combined droplet and contact precautions
• Safe fitting and removal of PPE (combined poster) (PDF 1980 kB) (Source: Queensland Health)
• Safe fitting and removal of PPE (PDF 691 kB) (Source: Queensland Health)
• Fit Check for P2/N95 respirator (PDF 651 kB) (Source: Queensland Health)

First Nations culturally appropriate posters

• Safe fitting and removal of PPE (combined poster) (PDF 1980 kB) (Source: Queensland Health)
• Safe fitting and removal of PPE (PDF 5685 kB) (Source: Queensland Health)
• Fit Check for P2/N95 respirator (PDF 711 kB) (Source: Queensland Health)

Videos

Correct order of putting on and removing PPE

• PPE demonstration videos (Source: Tasmanian Government Department of Health) :
  • Contact and droplet precautions
  • Contact and airborne precautions
• Fit checking of respirators
  These resources have been developed by the NSW Clinical Excellence Commission and are targeted at health workers in NSW Health organisations.  Always refer to your local infection prevention and control guidelines if you are unsure where these recommendations apply in your workplace. We acknowledge there will be variation in the personal protective equipment available in different setting according to needs.
  • Duckbill style respirator
  • Cupped respirator
  • Flat fold respirator
  • Foldable respirator

Other PPE guidance

• Optimising the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) (PDF 341 kB) (Source: Queensland Health)

National and international resources

• Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare (2019) (Source: Australian Government)
  National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines provide information about standard and additional precautions, including recommended cleaning and duration of precautions (Table A2.3).
• Infection Control Expert Group (ICEG) endorsed infection control guidance
• Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) statements
• World Health Organization (WHO) Infection prevention and control guidance
• COVID-19 infection control training
  This 30-minute online training module is for health care workers in all settings. It covers the fundamentals of infection prevention and control for COVID-19.

Infection control guidance

• Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) CDNA National Guidelines for Public Health Units (Source: Australian Government)
  This document summarises interim recommendations for surveillance, infection control, laboratory testing and contact management for the novel coronavirus. It is updated frequently.
• Communicable disease control guidance – COVID-19 (Source: Queensland Health)
  This page provides information on coronavirus including a case report form and public health management guidelines.
• COVID-19 management of close contacts
  Links to the latest Public Health Direction on the management of close contacts.

Information for consumers, including current advice on the number of confirmed cases in Queensland, can be found at COVID-19 coronavirus information for Queenslanders.