Environment Assessment

LMPHU Public Health Officer Assessment

• Environments are assessed in the first instance by the public health officer managing the high-risk setting or outbreak
• The Public Health Officer makes contact with a relevant person with knowledge of the site, for example facility manager. 
• Review of site/facility layout
• Collecting data on numbers of staff/residents/clients/vulnerable contacts 

Infection Prevention and Control Assessments

• Provide site assessments utilising key IPC principles as outlined in the Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare; Infection control guidelines; Infection Prevention control resources - COVID; and risk management (hierarchy of control).
• Promote standard precautions
• Hand hygiene
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Sharps disposal and management
• Aseptic technique
• Reprocessing reusable equipment
• Cleaning and disinfection
• Waste management
• Linen handling and management
• Promote transmission-based precautions
• Droplet, air-borne, contact precautions requirements
• Isolation, quarantine, zoning
• Ventilation
• Promote antibiotic stewardship (multiple resources available - see the National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare.)
• Provide tailored infection prevention control advice and education