Professor Ramon Z. Shaban1
1University Of Sydney
Biography:
Professor Ramon Z. Shaban is Clinical Chair of Communicable Disease Control and Infection Prevention at the University of Sydney and Western Sydney Local Health District. He is a leading, internationally credentialed, practising expert infection control practitioner with particular strengths in high-consequence infectious diseases, disease control, emergency care and health protection spanning 30 years of practice. Professor Shaban is Chief Infection Control Practitioner for Western Sydney Local Health District where he provides strategic and operational leadership of infection prevention and disease control services. He is also an Associate Director of the New South Wales Biocontainment Centre, Australia’s first purpose-built state-of-the-art facility for the prevention, containment and management of high-consequence infectious disease located at Westmead Hospital in New South Wales. Professor Shaban is a Past President and served for many years on the Board of the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control. He is a member of ACIPC Credentialling and Fellowship Assessment Panel and is a Senior Editor the College’s journal Infection, Disease and Health.
Abstract:
Introduction. Residential aged care settings maintain a unique balance as comfortable places of residence for older people and a setting where clinical care is provided. Over the last 50 years, the administration of formal infection prevention and control (IPC) programs, as well as the professionals who lead them (ICP), have evolved with the ever-changing demands of the sector itself. We present a comprehensive review of the global contents and structure of IPC programs, governance and professional characteristics in aged care and what it means for the future of practice in Australia.
Methods. Two scoping reviews were completed for white and grey literature on IPC programs and professional practice in aged care published between 1980-2025. Articles were analysed content analysis to identify and describe the most common elements.
Results. 124 articles were included across both reviews. Between 25-28 unique IPC program elements were identified across white and grey literature sources, with the total number of elements described in any given source ranging from 2-18. The most common elements included standard precautions, employee health, surveillance, staff education and resident care. Descriptions of IPC governance and professional competencies were more heterogeneous and often lacked detailed explanation.
Conclusion. This research elucidates that despite nearly 50 years evidence, there remains little consensus and uniformity on governance and elements of IPC programs in aged care, nor the expectations for the qualifications, competency and credentialling for the IPC professional. Gaps in this literature indicate a need for formal, evidence-based guidelines for IPC in this sector.