Storage of Sterile Goods

What Is It? Clinical supplies, including sterile items, must be stored and handled to maintain the integrity of packaging and prevent contamination from any source. All sterile items must be stored in a designated area and handled in accordance with legislation.  Any item found to be incorrectly wrapped, damaged, already opened,...

Disposal of Clinical Waste

What Is It? Clinical waste contains potentially harmful microorganisms that can infect residents, employees, and the general public.  The facility can prevent infection and transmission of antimicrobial organisms by providing a clean, waste-free environment.  To protect people from harm when handling waste or hazardous substances, specific procedures should be followed....

Safe Injection & Multi-dose Vials

What Is It? Safe injection includes practices intended to prevent transmission of infectious diseases between one patient and another or between a patient and healthcare provider, and also to prevent harm such as needlestick injuries. All employees need to follow basic safe injection procedures.   Safe techniques involve handling, preparing, and storing...

Applying Standard Precautions

All Healthcare Workers (clinical and non-clinical) and volunteers must utilise standard precautions whenever contact is anticipated or there is a potential risk of contact with non-intact skin, mucous membranes, and body substances, including blood, faeces, urine, sputum, saliva, and wound drainage. If there are known infectious organisms/pathogens, or a potential...

Reprocessing of Medical Instruments and Equipment

What Is It? Generally, residential aged care facilities would not use items that require sterilisation for reuse. Disposable single-use equipment and dressing items would generally be used. However, if items need to be sterilised, then a suitable service provider must be sourced by the facility which is able to/must comply with...

Hand Hygiene

What Is It? Hand hygiene is a general term referring to any action of hand cleaning and includes The washing of hands systematically by rubbing all surfaces of lathered hands vigorously with a mild liquid handwash for 10-15 seconds under running water and drying with single-use paper towels or cloths....