Schedule 2 Infection control standards
(Clause 44A)
(1) In this Schedule:body substance includes any human bodily secretion or substance.
invasive procedure means any one or more of the following:
(a) surgical entry into body tissue, cavities or organs,(b) surgical repair of traumatic injuries.patient includes (but is not limited to) a person who is accessing physiotherapy services or who is undergoing physiotherapy treatment.
sharps means any object capable of inflicting penetrating injury, and includes hollow bore needles, suture needles, scalpel blades, wires, trocars, auto lancets, stitch cutters, broken glassware, razors or scissors.
(2) The requirements set out in this Schedule apply to a physiotherapist who is assisting in performing a procedure in the same way as they apply to a physiotherapist who is actually in performing the procedure.
Part 2 General standards applying to physiotherapists
2 General precautions and aseptic techniques
(1) Procedures must be followed in order to avoid direct exposure to a patient’s blood or other body substances. This requirement applies regardless of whether there is any perceived risk of infection.(2) Aseptic techniques must be used in the course of complying with the requirements of this Schedule.
(1) Hands must be cleaned immediately before and after any direct patient care.(2) Hands may be cleaned by:(a) using washing facilities involving water and a soap or antiseptic, or(b) if any of the items specified in paragraph (a) are unavailable, using non-water cleansers or antiseptics.(3) Hands or other skin surfaces that are contaminated with a patient’s blood or other body substance must be cleaned as soon as it is practicable to clean them.(4) The requirement to clean hands applies regardless of whether gloves are also required to be worn.
A gown or apron made of impervious material must be worn during any procedure where there is a likelihood of clothing being splashed or contaminated with blood or other body substances.
(1) Gloves must be worn while handling blood or other body substances.(2) In particular, gloves must be worn:(a) during any procedure where direct contact is anticipated with a patient’s blood or other body substances, mucous membranes or non-intact skin, and(b) while suctioning a patient, and(c) while handling items or surfaces that have come into contact with blood or other body substances, and(d) while performing an invasive procedure, venipuncture or a finger or heel stick.(3) Sterile gloves must be worn if the procedure involves contact with sterile tissue.(4) Gloves must be changed and discarded:(a) as soon as they are torn or punctured, and(b) after contact with each patient.(5) Gloves must also be changed if separate procedures are being performed on the same patient and there is a risk of infection from one part of the body to another.
6 Masks and protective eye wear
(1) A mask and protective eye wear must be worn while performing any procedure where there is a likelihood of splashing or splattering of blood or other body substances.(2) In cases where a mask is required to be worn, it must be worn and fitted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.(3) A mask must be discarded once it has been worn and it must not be used again.(4) In cases where protective eye wear is required to be worn, it must be worn and fitted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.(5) Protective eye wear must be discarded once it has been worn and not used again unless it is reusable in which case it is to be cleaned in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
(1) Sharps must not be passed by hand between a physiotherapist and any other person. However, this requirement does not apply if, in any case involving an invasive procedure, the proper conduct of the procedure would be adversely affected.(2) A puncture resistant tray must be used to transfer sharps.(3) A needle must not be removed from a disposable syringe for disposal, or be purposely broken or otherwise manipulated by hand, unless it is necessary to remove the needle for technical reasons.(4) A needle must not be bent after it is contaminated with blood or body substances.(5) In any case where resheathing of a needle is required:(a) the needle must be properly recapped, and(b) the sheath must not be held in the fingers, and(c) either a single handed technique or forceps, or a suitable protective guard designed for the purpose, must be used.(6) Reusable sharps must, immediately after being used, be placed in a puncture resistant container specially labelled for that purpose.(7) Non-reusable sharps must, immediately after being used, be disposed of in a puncture resistant container.
(1) Clinical waste must be properly packaged to protect against potential exposure to infectious agents and to facilitate the proper handling, storage and treatment or disposal of the waste.(2) Splashing or contamination of skin while disposing of blood or body substances must be avoided as far as practicable.
Part 3 Processing of instruments and equipment
(1) Any respiratory equipment that is designed for single use must be discarded once it is used.(2) Any other respiratory equipment must be cleaned and disinfected after each time the equipment is used.
10 Cleaning of instruments and equipment
(1) Any instrument or equipment that comes into contact with intact skin must be cleaned before it is used.(2) Any instrument or equipment that is required to be sterilised or disinfected must be cleaned before it is sterilised or disinfected.(3) The process of cleaning must involve water and mechanical or physical action (such as washing machines) and a cleaning agent.(4) All cleaning agents must be removed from instruments and equipment by rinsing prior to further processing.(5) In this clause, cleaning agent means a detergent and includes proteolytic enzyme substances.
11 Disinfection of instruments and equipment
(1) Any instrument or equipment that comes into contact with non-sterile tissue (other than intact skin) must, before it is used, be disinfected with a disinfectant specified in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, and the relevant manufacturer’s instructions must be followed.(2) The process of disinfection must involve either thermal or chemical methods. Chemical disinfection may only be used in cases where thermal methods are unsuitable.
12 Sterilisation of instruments and equipment
(1) Any instrument or equipment used to enter, or that is capable of entering, tissue that would be sterile under normal circumstances, or the vascular system of a patient, must be sterilised before it is used.(2) The method of sterilisation must be compatible with the particular type of instrument or equipment.(3) If a steriliser is used (whether it is a benchtop/portable steriliser or a permanently plumbed or wired steriliser), the following criteria must be met:(a) the relevant manufacturer’s instructions must be followed,(b) an ongoing monitoring program must be followed which reflects the requirements of Table 7.1 “STERILIZER TESTS AND TEST FREQUENCIES” of Australian Standard AS 4187–1998.(4), (5) (Repealed)