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10 Mar 2016
The Podiatry Board of Australia (Board) has today published revised guidelines on infection prevention and control.
The revised guidelines, which describe the obligations of registered podiatrists and podiatric surgeons with respect to infection prevention and control, come into effect on 4 April 2016.
Effective infection prevention and control is central to providing high quality care for patients and a safe working environment for those that work in healthcare settings. The Board expects podiatrists and podiatric surgeons to practise in a way that maintains and enhances public health and safety by ensuring that the risk of the spread of infection is prevented or minimised.
The Board has made minimal changes to the guidelines and are continuing to adopt the National Health and Medical Research Council Australian guidelines for the prevention and control of infection in healthcare (NHMRC guidelines). The NHMRC guidelines were developed using best available evidence and aim to promote and facilitate the overall goal of infection prevention and control.
Practitioners must be familiar with and practise within the recommendations of the NHMRC guidelines as they apply to the practice setting(s) in which they work.
The Board has also developed and published a self-audit tool that practitioners may choose to use to see how well they comply with the Board’s Guidelines on infection prevention and control. The tool serves as a checklist to help practitioners ensure that their workplace is in a clean and hygienic state and they are taking the necessary practicable steps to prevent or minimise the spread of infection.
All registered podiatrists and podiatric surgeons are required to complete continuing professional development (CPD) as part of their registration. The Board encourages practitioners to reflect on their current understanding of infection prevention and control principles and how to apply them and to complete CPD in this area to ensure their knowledge and skills are current.