Infection control in aged care in focus

Education is key to ensuring aged care facilities stay on top of the latest infection control cleaning processes, experts say.

Education is key to ensuring aged care facilities stay on top of the latest infection control cleaning processes, experts say.

Aged care procurement and facility managers are being encouraged to access cutting-edge infection control practice when experts share current evidence at a Melbourne event next month.

“With evolving technology and innovation in the cleaning and hygiene sector, education is the key to aged care facilities finding solutions to combat the spread of infections and protect aged care residents,” said Kim Taranto, manager of ISSA Oceania, a global association for the cleaning industry.

As Australian Ageing Agenda previously reported, experts argue that aged care executives need to be involved in infection control as facility design and materials play a part in controlling the spread of infection (read story here).

The ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo Australia 2017, which takes place on 9 and 10 May, includes a program of free education sessions where aged care professionals can hear from experts in the field.

“The critical importance of infection control audits in healthcare settings is among the topics to be discussed at the event,” said Ms Taranto.

Louise Wright, expert in infection control and epidemology at Monash Health, will discuss how aged care facilities can look for the right signals when conducting infection control audits, how to keep audits simple and how to ensure they use top healthcare cleaning products.

Seminars are free but there is a cost for certification workshops, the conference organisers said.

The ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo takes place 9-10 May at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

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Tags: infection-control, monash-university,

1 thought on “Infection control in aged care in focus

  1. The looming reality of a world full of drug-resistant super bugs and useless antibiotics should be stirring the world into action…unfortunately, we’ll probably wake up one day to find ourselves back in the nineteenth century and wonder how we let this happen.

    Let’s hope the message reaches the providers and architects who confuse aged care with five star hotels. Hand washing stations aren’t sexy and may not suit ‘the look’ you’re after, but overlook them at your peril.

    Many new facilities have dropped the ball on this vital aspect of infection control, installing funky sinks, taps and waste bins that look pretty but just don’t belong in a health care setting (Please note: you can dress them up all you like but they’re still health care facilities)This focus on form over function has created some infection control shockers.

    I’m sure most residents would be more concerned about MRSA and VRE than the color of the curtains…and we should be too.

    While you’re there. maybe you could also let everyone know that wearing gloves doesn’t negate the need to wash your hands.

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