Healthcare-associated infections are the most common hospital-acquired complication in Australia, leading to readmissions, poorer patient outcomes and increased emotional and financial burden.
Surgical site infections (SSI) affect tens of thousands of Australians each year and it is estimated that each readmission caused by a hospital-acquired infection incurs around $40,000 in extra costs.
The Albanese government has recognised the need for further action on infection prevention and control (IPC), announcing a $3.7 million investment into targeted aged care IPC research.
The funding boost will facilitate four university led projects under the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), with the aim of developing evidence-based IPC programs that will “meet the varying needs of both public and private aged care homes across Australia.”
NHMRC chief Professor Steve Wesselingh said the outcomes of this targeted research will assist in developing an evidence base upon which existing IPC practices can be adapted and improved sector-wide.
“Infection prevention and control practices that aim to minimise and stop the transmission of infections are critical in all environments,” Professor Wesselingh said.
“Our national research efforts must be directed towards adopting an evidence-based approach to infection prevention and control – this will ultimately improve the health and wellbeing of aged care residents and the wider community.”
Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells said the health care sector must be proactive when addressing the risk of infection for vulnerable Australians.
“For our aged care sector, we need to remain vigilant on our approach towards infection prevention and control – it is an integral part of quality and safety standard improvement.
“The Government’s approach to improving infection prevention and control in residential aged care homes is actively driven by the intent of providing care that is patient-centred and of the highest quality.
“Supported IPC leads will deliver consistent, effective prevention and response to infectious diseases in residential aged care homes, protecting our older community.”
Med tech giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has also made a significant move towards SSI prevention, withdrawing all non-antibacterial sutures from Australian and New Zealand markets as of August 1 and providing a new antimicrobial alternative.
With Australia’s health sector facing increased workforce shortages, preventable hospital admissions are a burden most cannot afford to bear. Research shows that over 50 per cent of SSIs are avoidable with correct IPC compliance.
Queensland based registered nurse Antonia Dixon has seen first hand the price of infection in primary care.
“The impact of surgical site infections is far and wide reaching, often very emotionally and financially taxing on the patients and their families,” Ms Dixon said.
“The extended utilisation of staff, resources, equipment and medications demonstrates the great impact surgical site infections has on primary health care settings.”
“I have had the experience of patients returning to theatre multiple times for washouts, debridements, removal of prothesis and staged revisions of implantations. These procedures are always disheartening for the entire theatre team whom always aim to provide the best quality of care to every patient.”
J&J reports that using antibacterial sutures as part of a wholistic IPC approach can reduce the associated risks of infection by up to 28 per cent, however, Ms Dixon reiterates that education and policy must evolve alongside med tech advances in order to effectively combat infection.
“In aiming to provide patients with the highest quality care many measures are taken within the intra-operative setting with great consideration in the selection of suture properties and materials,” she said.
“Recognising new technology and antibacterial suture products available the surgical team are able to make selections that best suit the purpose and needs of the patient’s condition.
“As a theatre nurse being able to offer and educate surgeons on the latest technology in antibacterial sutures provides the team with greater confidence in patient treatment and care.”
“Knowledge is power and the more education health care providers have will greatly impact their practices and in turn improve patient outcomes.
“The importance of the precautions and measures we take in preventing surgical site infections should always be front of mind and direct our practices in providing quality patient care.”
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