{"title":"Validation of performance qualification of ultrasound probe high-level disinfection devices in clinical settings.","authors":"David Bellamy, Karen Vickery","doi":"10.1016/j.idh.2025.08.004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2025.08.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In accordance with AS5369:2023, disinfection processes need to undergo routine performance qualification (PQ) as part of in-field validation. Automated high-level disinfection (HLD) devices therefore need to undergo PQ. Responding to reports that some ultraviolet-C (UV-C) devices used for reprocessing of ultrasound transducers were failing to achieve sporicidal efficacy during routine PQ, we evaluated the sporicidal efficacy of these devices.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Sporicidal efficacy was assessed using commercially available stainless steel biological indicators (BIs) inoculated with 10<sup>6</sup>Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores (ATCC® 7953). BIs were clamped in top and bottom positions inside the chambers of the devices [UV-C light-emitting diode (LED), UV-C lamp and hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) mist]. All three devices were in clinical use. BI test conditions included packaged, unwrapped and non-flamed as well as unwrapped and flame sterilised on the clamped coupon end. Results were evaluated on a pass (no growth) or fail (growth) basis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The UV-C LED device failed to inactivate spores in all tested positions and conditions (n = 18). The UV-C lamp device passed 2/6 of the unwrapped and flamed tests but failed all other tests (n = 12). The H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> mist device passed all tests, inactivating spores for all conditions and chamber positions (n = 18).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> mist device was the only device in this study that passed all tests, demonstrating sporicidal efficacy. Both UV-C devices failed to demonstrate sporicidal efficacy in this PQ study suggesting that clinicians need to monitor UV-C devices more frequently to ensure continued efficacy and patient safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":94040,"journal":{"name":"Infection, disease & health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145093321","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chris Degeling, Su-Yin Hor, Emma Campbell, Jane Williams
{"title":"Testing the waters - The public acceptability of key population-level infection control measures in post-pandemic Australia.","authors":"Chris Degeling, Su-Yin Hor, Emma Campbell, Jane Williams","doi":"10.1016/j.idh.2025.08.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2025.08.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>From 2020 to 2022 Australia supressed community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by imposing a range of population-level measures. This limited mortality and created time to achieve high levels of vaccination, but also caused indirect harms. Our study aimed to capture lay perspectives on the implications of using lockdowns, masking mandates, and school and border closures to supress transmission in future pandemics.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We report on 9 dialogue groups (n = 53) with residents of Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Each location had different epidemiological conditions and health policy settings during the pandemic. Dialogue group methods allow data collection on questions in applied ethics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found that mandating masking indoors was broadly accepted in all group discussions, but attitudes to other measures varied depending on participants' past experiences. All groups accepted lockdowns and school closures might be necessary but wanted greater flexibility in policy implementation based on a broader range of health and social risks. Groups from cities that experienced the tightest public health controls during COVID-19 tended to have greater tolerance of future use of stringent measures (with conditions).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Public compliance during future infectious disease emergencies likely depends on trust in institutions and expertise, and perceptions of the necessity, effectiveness and fairness of interventions. Rather than assuming public acquiescence, defiance or disinterest, in preparing for the next pandemic it is important to devote resources to understanding the public acceptability and perceived legitimacy of implementing any or all these measures.</p>","PeriodicalId":94040,"journal":{"name":"Infection, disease & health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145088686","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aiman El-Saed, Fatmah Othman, Sarah Al-Fayez, Abdullah Turki Alotaibi, Nada Wagit Alharthi, Ryad Fahad Alamry, Mohammed Khalaf Alharbi, Hisham Yousef AlOuhali, Ahmad Elsaed, Rama M Matalqah, Majid M Alshamrani
{"title":"Magnitude and determinants of underreporting needlestick injuries among healthcare workers in a tertiary care hospital.","authors":"Aiman El-Saed, Fatmah Othman, Sarah Al-Fayez, Abdullah Turki Alotaibi, Nada Wagit Alharthi, Ryad Fahad Alamry, Mohammed Khalaf Alharbi, Hisham Yousef AlOuhali, Ahmad Elsaed, Rama M Matalqah, Majid M Alshamrani","doi":"10.1016/j.idh.2025.08.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2025.08.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Needlestick injuries (NSIs) among healthcare workers (HCWs) represent a major occupational risk. While the underreporting of NSI is well-acknowledged, there are limited data on its magnitude. The objective was to estimate the incidence of NSIs and the degree of underreporting among HCWs and their influencing factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was carried out at a large tertiary care hospital. The study targeted clinical HCWs who were directly involved in patient care in different departments/units. Non-clinical HCWs and students/trainees were excluded. Data were collected using a structured online questionnaire that includes HCWs characteristics and injury information.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 529 HCWs were included. The mean age of HCWs was 35.0 ± 8.6 years. Most HCWs were females (76.6 %), nurses (69.8 %), and non-Saudi (61.9 %). A total of 158 (29.8 %) HCWs had at least one NSI event sometime during healthcare service, including 28 (5.3 %) during the last year. NSIs were highest in dental clinics (44.4 %), followed by surgical wards (38.8 %), ICUs (34.1 %), emergency unit (21.4 %), and non-surgical wards (18.2 %, p = 0.007). Out of those who had NSIs, 18.4 % did not report their event. Non-reporting was highest among physician and other HCWs (38.5 % each), followed by dentists (27.3 %), and lastly nurses (10.2 %). Additionally, non-reporting NSIs was significantly higher among Saudi HCWs and those who were unaware about protocol and methods of NSIs reporting.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings show a considerable underreporting of NSIs, especially among non-nursing professions. There is an urgent need to implement strategies that promote reporting practices, including awareness campaigns and efficient reporting systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":94040,"journal":{"name":"Infection, disease & health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145058718","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Seminal vesicle abscess with orchitis and emphysematous cystitis following traumatic urethral injury from accidental urinary catheter dislodgement.","authors":"Shiori Kitaya, Ryo Oyama, Hajime Kanamori","doi":"10.1016/j.idh.2025.08.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2025.08.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Indwelling urinary catheters are widely used in hospitalized patients but can be inadvertently dislodged due to trauma, leading to complications such as catheter-associated urinary tract infections and urological injuries.</p><p><strong>Case report: </strong>An 87-year-old man developed a seminal vesicle abscess (SVA) caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa following urethral injury due to accidental urinary catheter dislodgement. The patient presented with hematuria and penile bleeding following dislodgement of the urinary catheter, and subsequently developed fever and a urinary tract infection. Computed tomography revealed contrast enhancement in the left seminal vesicle and left testis, as well as emphysematous cystitis. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed an abscess in the left seminal vesicle. Urine cultures identified P. aeruginosa as the causative organism. The patient was successfully treated with intravenous ciprofloxacin without the need for surgical drainage and was subsequently transferred to another facility.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Traumatic urinary catheter removal increases the risk of urethral injury and infection; therefore, appropriate measures to prevent catheter dislodgement are essential. Additionally, in urinary tract infections following catheter-related urethral injury, the possibility of progression to an SVA should be considered. Early imaging-based diagnosis, targeted antibiotic therapy, and drainage, when necessary, are crucial for improving patient outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":94040,"journal":{"name":"Infection, disease & health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144994877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bern Squires, Thea van de Mortel, Peta-Anne Zimmerman
{"title":"Surgical bundle sustainability in caesarean section births: An integrative review.","authors":"Bern Squires, Thea van de Mortel, Peta-Anne Zimmerman","doi":"10.1016/j.idh.2025.07.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2025.07.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Surgical site infection (SSI) rates for Australian patients undergoing caesarean section births (CS) range from 5 % to 9 %. As CS rates are increasing, it is imperative to identify effective measures to reduce SSIs. Surgical bundles are one strategy used to prevent infections in various surgical procedures.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To identify and discuss the evidence supporting the combination of individual surgical bundle practices in CS births that contribute to SSI reduction and how these surgical bundle practices are sustained.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An integrative review was undertaken using articles from a systematic search of five research databases. The review examined studies that implemented or evaluated a surgical bundle for CSs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ten articles met the inclusion criteria. All reported SSI reductions post-intervention. Studies implementing four or fewer surgical bundle components demonstrated a larger reduction in infection rates and increased compliance compared to those with five or more components. Studies with shorter durations, prospective designs, and smaller sample sizes all reported a larger reduction in SSIs. Compliance was reported throughout the studies, but recommendations to achieve long-term sustainability were not supported by evidence.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This review identified a surgical bundle with four components that may reduce the SSI rate in CS births. Strategies to sustain evidence-based practices to reduce SSIs in CS have not been extensively studied. Future research should investigate factors that support compliance and track ongoing compliance with infection prevention surgical bundle elements, as well as their impact on SSI rates.</p>","PeriodicalId":94040,"journal":{"name":"Infection, disease & health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144860022","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bismi Thottiyil Sultanmuhammed Abdul Khadar, Brett G Mitchell, Vanessa M McDonald, Julee McDonagh, Jenny Sim
{"title":"User experience of air purifiers for the purpose of reducing acute respiratory tract infections: A cross-sectional survey in residential aged care settings.","authors":"Bismi Thottiyil Sultanmuhammed Abdul Khadar, Brett G Mitchell, Vanessa M McDonald, Julee McDonagh, Jenny Sim","doi":"10.1016/j.idh.2025.07.004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2025.07.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>A recent randomised controlled trial has identified that air purification within residential aged care settings may reduce acute respiratory tract infections. User acceptability and experience with air purifiers are important components of the evaluation of this novel intervention.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional survey was conducted with residents and care staff in residential aged care facilities. The Theoretical Framework of Acceptability was used to examine acceptability and fixed response, and open-ended questions were used to explore experiences. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively. Content analysis with a deductive approach was used to analyse responses to open-ended questions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Between the 30th of September and the 2nd of November 2023, 38 residents with a median age of 89 years (IQR = 9) and 48 care staff with a median age of 45 years (IQR = 19) completed surveys. All residents and care staff participants found having an air purifier in residents' rooms acceptable. All residents and most care staff participants expressed positive experiences with air purifier use. Most residents (76.3 %) were satisfied with the air purifier's current features.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The survey has provided evidence of participants' high level of acceptability of using air purifiers in residential aged care facilities and their positive experiences with air purifier use. This research has demonstrated that in-room air purification was acceptable to both residents and care staff. The findings from this study may inform future large-scale projects to implement air purification technology into healthcare systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":94040,"journal":{"name":"Infection, disease & health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144860023","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tina Wilkie-Miskin, Mya Abigail Acosta, Sarah Browning, Kristen Pickles, Sally Munnoch, Patricia Knight, Amy Bernotas, Stanley Chen, Rachel Ng, Erin Mathieu
{"title":"Gloves off!: Environmental and financial impacts of an educational intervention to improve hand hygiene. A quality improvement study.","authors":"Tina Wilkie-Miskin, Mya Abigail Acosta, Sarah Browning, Kristen Pickles, Sally Munnoch, Patricia Knight, Amy Bernotas, Stanley Chen, Rachel Ng, Erin Mathieu","doi":"10.1016/j.idh.2025.07.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2025.07.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Non-sterile gloves are often used inappropriately in clinical care, with associated poorer hand hygiene, and financial and environmental waste.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This before and after study assessed the impact of an educational intervention on non-sterile glove use, hand hygiene compliance, knowledge and attitudes, and environmental and financial metrics. Participants were clinical staff working in two acute surgical wards of an adult tertiary referral hospital from May 2023 to March 2024. The intervention, 'Gloves Off!', was a multi-modal education intervention delivered during July-August 2023. The main outcome measures were: glove purchase numbers and associated carbon footprint, waste to landfill, financial cost; hand hygiene compliance and unnecessary glove use; staff hand hygiene knowledge and attitudes. Measures were taken at baseline, post-intervention, and seven-month follow-up.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Glove purchase numbers fell by an average of 6.9 gloves per occupied bed day after the intervention. The estimated monthly reduction of 13,020 gloves for two wards equates to reductions in carbon footprint of 443kgCO<sub>2</sub>e, waste 44.8 kg and cost AUD$651. Hand hygiene compliance improved from 59 % (151/254) at baseline to 83 % (125/150) at follow-up and unnecessary use glove use fell from 60 % (152/252) at baseline to 23 % (13/56) at follow-up. Survey results showed that after education, staff demonstrated significant improvements in aspects of hand hygiene and glove use knowledge.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A 'Gloves Off!' intervention was successful in improving glove use behaviour and staff hand hygiene, knowledge and attitudes as measured by observational audits, staff surveys, and glove purchase data. Significant cost, waste and carbon footprint reductions were achieved.</p>","PeriodicalId":94040,"journal":{"name":"Infection, disease & health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144857256","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sally M Havers, Claire M Rickard, Josephine Lovegrove, Andrew J Stewardson, Diana Egerton-Warburton, Rebecca L McCann, Gillian Ray-Barruel, Karen M Davies, Christine Brown, Samuel M Mathias, Jessica A Schults
{"title":"Infection prevention and control priorities to improve peripheral intravenous catheter care- setting a national priority agenda.","authors":"Sally M Havers, Claire M Rickard, Josephine Lovegrove, Andrew J Stewardson, Diana Egerton-Warburton, Rebecca L McCann, Gillian Ray-Barruel, Karen M Davies, Christine Brown, Samuel M Mathias, Jessica A Schults","doi":"10.1016/j.idh.2025.07.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2025.07.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) care in Australia remains suboptimal and continues to cause harm. Gaps in local policy, variation in clinician training and competing clinical priorities all continue to lead to poor PIVC practices and associated complications.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A priority setting study was undertaken with the aim of identifying infection prevention and control priorities for PIVC care and key actionable strategies that would facilitate effective improvements in PIVC practices.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sixty-five multidisciplinary clinicians participated in the study. Nine priority themes were identified with key actionable strategies including greater consumer engagement, development of standardised and evidence-informed resources, and strong national leadership for PIVC care improvement.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study provides valuable knowledge from clinicians with an in-depth understanding of the clinical factors contributing to poor PIVC practices. Efforts to improve these practices and address the key themes identified will depend on strong leadership and a coordinated approach across the system.</p>","PeriodicalId":94040,"journal":{"name":"Infection, disease & health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144746642","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nicolas Calcagni, Anne-Gaëlle Venier, Raymond Nasso, Bruno Jarrige, Eva Ardichen, Pierre Parneix, Bruno Quintard
{"title":"Barriers and facilitators of effective prevention and management of healthcare-associated infections regarding faecal matter: Perceptions of healthcare professionals and prevention perspectives.","authors":"Nicolas Calcagni, Anne-Gaëlle Venier, Raymond Nasso, Bruno Jarrige, Eva Ardichen, Pierre Parneix, Bruno Quintard","doi":"10.1016/j.idh.2025.06.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2025.06.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>To determine the perceptions of healthcare professionals regarding faecal risk and healthcare associated infection, as well as the means and limitations perceived, to improve adherence to hygiene protocols through an understanding of the barriers and facilitators of these professionals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A qualitative study was conducted through 15 individual interviews and 3 focus groups (12 participants) in Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Guadeloupe. An interview guide developed through interdisciplinary collaboration was used, which addressed the perceptions of faecal germs and viruses, risk perception, means of prevention, barriers and facilitators to compliance with good hygiene practices, as well as knowledge needs. A verbatim transcription was performed, and the corpus was prepared for thematic analysis (using Vivo software).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The professionals lack understanding regarding the issue of faecal risk. Although most of the professionals interviewed feel concerned, the perception of risk varies notably according to the type of service, the epidemic threshold, and the patient's health status. The barriers to compliance with hygiene practices are both institutional and individual.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Caregivers suggest ways to increase knowledge of the problem. These results precede and complement the development of the \"faecal risk\" toolbox in 2020 by the national cross-support mission for the prevention of healthcare-associated infections (Repairs MATIS).</p>","PeriodicalId":94040,"journal":{"name":"Infection, disease & health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144669164","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kathy Dempsey, Susan Jain, Patricia Bradd, Kate Clezy, David Greenfield
{"title":"Australian infection prevention and control governance, strategy and structure: Design for success.","authors":"Kathy Dempsey, Susan Jain, Patricia Bradd, Kate Clezy, David Greenfield","doi":"10.1016/j.idh.2025.06.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2025.06.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Governance, strategy and organisational structure for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programs across Australia remain variable. The standardisation and integration of these functions across jurisdictions are critical for effective advancement of IPC across health systems.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>Across the Australian Federal, State and Territory jurisdictions, the study examined a twofold research question: first, what are the governance, strategy and organisational structures of IPC programs?; and second, what are the essential elements for a standardised, consistent IPC governance framework?</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Comprising four integrated steps: preconference document analysis of key jurisdictional program information; a survey of conference participants; open discussion - an expert panel of jurisdictional leads and conference participants; and expert panel review, incorporating mixed methods and a modified Delphi approach for consensus and validated guidance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>IPC representatives across Australia participated in this study with 44 % (226/513) responses. Structures reported included: patient safety, public health, or infectious diseases. Reported key elements for effective IPC governance included IPC leadership expertise (42 %), a consistent and transparent structure (30 %), and adequate resourcing and funding for IPC (18 %). IPC governance structures across Australia remain substantially variable. The Australian Centre for Disease Control (AusCDC) is considered the pre-eminent IPC governance agency, that could enhance IPC governance, structure and strategic direction.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Clear governance, strategy, and organisational structures have a critical role in the effectiveness of IPC programs and healthcare associated infection reduction strategies. The developed framework provides additional insight towards a comprehensive, standardised national IPC governance framework, offering opportunity for improvement and informing future priorities.</p>","PeriodicalId":94040,"journal":{"name":"Infection, disease & health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144556257","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}