Aesthetic Day Surgery takes every precaution to avoid patient infections and has a robust infection control procedure to improve patient outcomes.
What are Healthcare Associated Infections?
Healthcare associated infections (HAI) are infections that occur as a result of healthcare interventions and are caused by micro-organisms such as bacteria and viruses. They can happen when you are being treated in hospital, at home, in a GP Clinic, a nursing home or any other healthcare facility.
Some infections occur after an invasive procedure such as surgery and can be treated with antibiotics. However there are some infections such as Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile that are more difficult to treat because they are resistant to certain antibiotics.
The risk of getting these infections depends on how healthy you are, how long you have been in hospital and certain medications that you take (including antibiotics).
What is Aesthetic Day Surgery doing to prevent infections?
- Staff education for Hand Hygiene and auditing how often staff wash their hands using soap and water or hand sanitiser
- Routine use of gloves and specially sterilised equipment
- Infection Control education for staff and audits to reduce infections
- Use of approved disinfectants for cleaning and disinfecting the operating suite, equipment and shared areas. High level disinfection and sterilisation are used according to national guidelines
- Placement of hand sanitiser dispensers making this readily accessible to staff, patients, families and visitors
- When additional precautions are required, staff wear gloves, gowns, masks and goggles
Aesthetic Day Surgery collects patient infection information from the surgeons and this is analysed to identify patterns or trends that may indicate an infection control problem.
We are not aware of any infection issues at Aesthetic Day Surgery.
Information for Patients and Visitors
We can all play a role in stopping the spread of infection. Therefore, a Hand Hygiene Australia brochure is available for all patients and their families to take home and read.
Hand washing is the most important way that patients and families can prevent the spread of infection in hospital. Waterless hand sanitiser is just as effective as washing with soap and water.
Your healthcare worker should always perform hand hygiene in front of you. If you did not see them and are worried, please feel free to remind them.
There are a number of things you can do to reduce the risk of infection:
- Wash your hands carefully with soap and water or use hand sanitiser upon entering the hospital
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze (or into your elbow if you don’t have one). Clean your hands afterwards – every time!
- Report any infection you have had, especially if you are still on antibiotics
- Make sure you take the full course of antibiotics you have been given, even if you are feeling better
- Take care to follow your post-operative wound care instructions and keep the wound clean and dry
- Stop smoking before any surgery, as smoking increases the risk of infection
