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Healthcare Infection Healthcare Infection Society
Official Journal of the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control
Table of Contents
Healthcare Infection

Healthcare Infection

Volume 18 Number 4 2013

HI13016Norovirus: a challenging pathogen

Chong W. Ong
pp. 133-142

Noroviruses cause many cases and outbreaks of gastroenteritis, resulting in significant morbidity, mortality and healthcare expenditure. This article discusses the multiple factors (related to virus biological properties, human immune responses or inadequate management modalities) that make norovirus a challenging pathogen. Safeguarding of food and water supplies and application of outbreak management and infection control measures remain the key to prevention and control.


Pseudomonas aeruginosa is known to be a water-loving organism. The aim of this report was to highlight the association between poor design of the sink drainage systems and the risk of healthcare associated infections in immunocompromised patients.The ideal design for these systems in clinical areas housing immunosuppressed patients is that which assists easy cleaning and maintenance by Environmental Services.

HI13019Antibiotic resistance and prescribing in Australia: current attitudes and practice of GPs

Rachel Hardy-Holbrook, Svetlana Aristidi, Vandana Chandnani, Daisy DeWindt and Kathryn Dinh
pp. 147-151

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing public health issue influenced by inappropriate prescribing and use. In order to inform development of a 5-year program, a cross-sectional survey of Australian GPs was conducted which found that patient expectation plays a role in the decision to prescribe antibiotics, with almost 40% of respondents admitting that they would prescribe antibiotics to meet a patient’s expectations. Further support for GPs in relation to dealing with patient expectation in regard to antibiotics should be provided.


Although asymptomatic carriage of antibiotic resistant ESBL-producing bacteria (ESBL) is becoming increasingly common, the duration of carriage is poorly defined. We sought to determine the duration of ESBL carriage among patients with repeated hospital admissions and found that the median duration of carriage was approximately 3 years and that 75% remained colonised beyond 1 year. These observations should be taken into consideration when deciding how to manage previously documented ESBL carriers on readmission.


Compliance with hand hygiene by healthcare workers in residential aged care facilities can reduce the risk of infection to residents, yet compliance rates are generally low.There are few published studies which report interventions that improve hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers within residential aged care facilities. Successful studies included the promotion of alcohol-based hand rubs. More research is needed to improve hand hygiene compliance in the aged care sector.


Methods of reducing acquisition of healthcare-associated infections (HCAI) have the focus of the international infection prevention and control community and surveillance of infection is acknowledged as a key preventative strategy. Findings of four consecutive point prevalence surveys provided information regarding HCAI and the prevalence of risk factors for infection. Repeated point prevalence surveys of infection provided a factual guide to aid quality improvement and infection prevention and control planning.