Infection prevention and control

Infections associated with the provision of healthcare affect patients, consumers, and the health workforce and: 

• can cause considerable harm and may increase the risk of morbidity, and death 
• increase the use of health services – for example, extended length of stay, resulting in increased use of health resources such as inpatient beds, treatment options and investigations 
• place greater demands on the health workforce. 

The RACGP Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines provide general practices and other office-based healthcare practices with updated guidance on planning and implementing high standards of infection prevention and control in their workplaces. These guidelines include information about: 

• hand hygiene 
• personal protective equipment (PPE) 
• sharps and exposure to blood and other body substances 
• cleaning after contamination by blood or other body substances and spills kits 
• cleaning, laundry and waste management. 

Hand hygiene

When performed correctly, hand hygiene results in a reduction of microorganisms on hands and contributes to improved patient safety through prevention of healthcare-associated infection. Wearing gloves does not replace the need for hand hygiene, as gloves do not provide complete protection against hand contamination. Microorganisms may gain access to the healthcare workers' hands via small defects in gloves, or by contamination of the hands during glove removal.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Personal protective equipment (PPE) includes gloves, fluid-impermeable aprons, gowns, masks, purpose-designed protective glasses, goggles and face shields. 

PPE protects against anticipated exposure to blood or body substances and a physical barrier against the specific modes of transmission identified in risk assessment. 

The appropriate PPE in any clinical situation depends on the risk assessment and the type of clinical procedure or activity. 

Sharps and contamination by body fluids

Sharps commonly found in general practices include needles and syringes, scalpel blades, stitch cutters, glass ampoules/vials, sharp plastic items, punch biopsy equipment, lancets, any other sharp surgical instrument for disposal, retractable sharps such as lancets for glucose testing, wire cytology brushes, razors, scissors and box cutters. The safe handling, transport and disposal of sharps is necessary to prevent injury and the possible transmission of infection to patients, doctors, other health professionals, practice staff and cleaning contractors. 

Blood or body substances other than sweat need to be treated as potentially infectious substances that can transmit disease on contact. Practices must have a kit readily available to manage contamination of floors or other surfaces by blood or other body substances. 

Incidents that result in contamination of surfaces by blood or other body substance need to be managed promptly. All staff members need to be familiar with the practice’s policy and procedure for managing blood and body substance spills. 

Ventilation and air circulation

Good ventilation assists in reducing the risk of spreading airborne diseases and helps to keep your practice staff and patients, especially those who are considered more vulnerable such as the elderly and immunocompromised, safe and comfortable. 

COVID-19 has had a profound impact on the healthcare system, and resulted in extreme infection control measures within health services including new guidelines on lung function testing procedures.