In Our Library

Infection Control & Prevention

Universal precautions and relevant infection control are the frontline for preventing the spread of communicable diseases— and clear guidance can minimise the stigma and discrimination arising from misinformation around this topic.

It’s worth noting that recent media articles have inaccurately implied that hepatitis can be transmitted via saliva: this has prompted Hepatitis Australia and the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) to issue a statement to clarify this issue: see bit. ly/hepaust_ashm.

Below is a small selection of Australian guidelines and factsheets from reliable sources that are available free online. These, and more, are all listed in our online library catalogue.

Infection control guidelines

CDNA National Guidelines for healthcare workers on managing bloodborne viruses

Communicable Diseases Network Australia, Canberra, 2019. Guideline/factsheet collection.

Set of documents that outline best-practice infection control in Australian healthcare settings for healthcare workers living with, or at risk of exposure to, blood-borne viruses.

bit.ly/CDNAguides

Vaccination

Hepatitis B vaccination FAQ

Hepatitis SA, Adelaide, 2018. 2p. factsheet

Answers to frequently asked questions about hepatitis B vaccination (South Australia). Read online only – contact admin@hepsa.asn.au for hard copies

Chinese version: bit.ly/ hepbvax_chi

English version: bit.ly/ hepbvax_eng

B vaccinated

Hepatitis Queensland, Brisbane, 2022. 1p. factsheet

Brief information about protecting ‘our mob’ from hepatitis B: vaccination regimes for adults and bubs. From the ‘B Stonger’ initiative for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

bit.ly/bstrongervax

Prevention

Cleaning up body fluid spills (blood, urine, saliva, faeces, etc)

Hepatitis SA, Adelaide 2021 (rev)

A set of 3 posters on safe handling of blood spills and sharps, and where to get help in South Australia.

bit.ly/spills1

Virus protection in your workplace

Hepatitis Queensland, Brisbane, 2020. Video 1:22 minutes

Brief animation that aims to help businesses protect their staff from several viruses that can be transmitted in the workplace.

bit.ly/workplaceprotect

Protect yourself: be blood aware

Nunkuwarrin Yunti, Adelaide, 2019. Poster

Concise information in poster format encouraging people to contact their doctor for follow up in cases of blood exposure.

bit.ly/bloodaware

What to do if you find a used needle

Hepatitis Queensland, Brisbane, 2019. 2p. factsheet.

Outlines 4 steps in disposing of used syringes safely and what the risks are with needlestick injuries.

bit.ly/usedsyringe

First aid and standard precautions

Hepatitis Queensland, Brisbane, 2019. 1p factsheet.

The basic precautions that should be followed in all cases where there is a risk of blood contact, with additional information where first aid needs to be administered.

bit.ly/firstaid_qld

Health information for clients of hair, beauty, tattooing and skin penetration industries

Health Vic., Melbourne, 2019. 2p factsheets

These factsheets contain information about risk and safety factors and how to assess the most safe service provider.

bit.ly/skinpenetration1 bit.ly/tattooingsafety

Needlestick injuries

LiverWELL (Hepatitis Victoria), Melbourne, 2018. 2p. factsheet

Explains the risks if incurring a needlestick injury, what to do in the immediate timeframe, what follow up is needed and how to avoid injury in the future.

bit.ly/needlestick1

Blood rules - know the score

Hepatitis SA, Adelaide, 2015. 1p. factsheet.

Explains the Blood Rule in sports, including basic information on blood borne virus transmissions. Read online only – contact admin@ hepsa.asn.au for hard copies.

bit.ly/bloodrules_hepsa

To access a wider listing of available resources: go to the catalogue (bit. ly/hepsalibrary), scroll down to the ‘Australian community resources’ list, and click on ‘transmission’. The ‘prevention/infection control’ heading leads to a comprehensive list of publications that can be refined using the topic list on the left-hand side.