Hospital-wide Intervention to Reduce Healthcare-associated Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infection
Tara McRaithGar-hing Lee1, , 1Joondalup Health Campus, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia
Background
Joondalup Health Campus is a 722-bed hospital servicing the northern corridor of Perth, Western Australia. In 2022 the rate of healthcare-associated Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (HA-SABSI) was noted to exceed the target of 1 per 1000 bed-days. The majority of these related to peripheral intravenous cannulae (pIVC). This poster outlines the Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) measures which we undertaken to address this.
Actions
This issue was raised at senior hospital levels and a multi-faceted intervention strategy was implemented. This included: a focus on hand-hygeine through ward-specific audit and hospital-wide health promotion, implementation and extension of a specific intravenous-cannulation service, standardisation of cannulation equipment and finally, junior-doctor engagement and training.
Results
Following the above interventions there have been no instances of pIVC related HA-SABSI to date in 2023.
Conclusion
Addressing HA-SABSIs requires hospital-wide engagement and intervention through a variety of means. These steps are achievable and effective at presenting hospital acquired infection.
Biography
Tara is a senior Infection Control practitioner at Joondalup Health Campus, a 700 bed hospital servicing the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. She has extensive experience in the control of hospital-acquired infection and was pivotal in managing the cruise ship Artania cohort, at the time the largest single cohort of COVID-19 patients in Australasia. These efforts were recognised by the German government with a tour of honour on the warship FGS Bayern. Additionally, this occurred with no cases of staff acquisition or nosocomial transmission. Tara has a fondness for animals and is averse to air-conditioning.