Expert consensus and recommendations for health care-associated infection surveillance in Queensland, Australia: A modified Delphi study - 11/07/25

Doi : 10.1016/j.ajic.2025.02.012

Jessica A. Schults, RN, PhD ^a,^b,^c,^⁎ , Sally M. Havers, RN, PhD ^a,^b,^d,^e, Belinda C. Henderson, RN, MN ^f, Sally Healy, RN ^f, Naomi Runnegar, MBBS, FRACP, FPCPA ^d,^g,^h, Trish Hurst, RN ^f, Karina Charles, RN, MICU ^a,^b,^c, Alison Smith, RN, MHR ^a, Julia E. Clark, MBBS, FRACP ⁱ, Robyn Birch, RN, MN ^j, Joanne Campbell, RN, NP ^k, Janine Carrucan, RN, MAdvP(InfPrCon) ^l, John Gamlin, RN ^m, Janice Geary, RN, Grad Dip (InfCon) ⁿ, Christopher S. Heather, MBChB ^o, Deborough A. MacBeth, RN, PhD ^p, Kylie Maxwell, RN, GCert ⁱ, Paul Simpson, RN, MSc(InfCon) ^q, Sarah Smith ^b, Josephine Lovegrove, RN, PhD ^a,^b,^r, Daner Ball, RN, MN ^a,^b, Lisa Hall, PhD ^a,^s, Claire M. Rickard, RN, PhD ^a,^b,^r
^a Herston Infectious Diseases Institute, Metro North Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
^b The University of Queensland, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, St Lucia and Centre for Clinical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia
^c Child Health Research Centre, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
^d Queensland Infection Clinical Network, Clinical Excellence Queensland, Queensland, Australia
^e Infection Prevention and Control Clinical Governance Unit, Darling Downs Health, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
^f Queensland Infection Prevention and Control Unit (QIPCU), Department of Health, Herston, Queensland, Australia
^g The Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Health, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
^h University of Queensland, School of Medicine, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
ⁱ Infection Management Service, Queensland Children’s Hospital, Children’s Health Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
^j Infection Control, Central West Hospital and Health Service, Longreach, Queensland, Australia
^k Infection Prevention and Tuberculosis Unit, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
^l Infection Prevention and Control, Townsville Hospital and Health Service, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
^m Infection Control, Southwest Hospital and Health Service, Southwest, Queensland, Australia
ⁿ Infection Control, The Prince Charles Hospital, Metro North Health, Chermside, Queensland, Australia
^o Infectious Diseases at Townsville Hospital and Health Service, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
^p Infection Control, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
^q Infection Prevention and Control, Redcliffe Hospital Metro North Hospital Health Service, Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia
^r NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Wiser Wound Care, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
^s University of Queensland, School of Public Health, Herston, Queensland, Australia

^⁎Address correspondence to Jessica A. Schults, RN, PhD, University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Building 71/918 RBWH Herston, Brisbane City, QLD 4029, Australia.University of Queensland Centre for Clinical ResearchBuilding 71/918 RBWH HerstonBrisbane CityQLD4029Australia

Résumé

Background

Health care-associated infections (HAIs) continue to contribute significantly to Australia’s burden of disease. In Queensland, varied surveillance protocols exist contributing to unnecessary complexity. With end-user partners, we defined a minimum dataset to support the public reporting of HAI surveillance data.

Methods

A modified, 2-round Delphi study was conducted with field experts. In Round 1, infection control professionals and infectious disease physicians rated HAI measures on importance, feasibility, usefulness, and case definition acceptability using Likert scales. Measures meeting predefined thresholds progressed to Round 2, where a panel of experts achieved ≥70% consensus on the final dataset.

Results

Forty-nine infection control professionals (nurses and physicians) responded in Round 1. From the originally proposed 36 HAI measures, 17 achieved consensus for importance, usefulness and feasibility. In Round 2, 14 experts (11 infection control practitioners; 3 physicians) met to review the 17 measures retained from Round 1. Final measures (n=13), meeting Round 2 consensus, included bloodstream infections, selected surgical site infections, and significant organisms.

Conclusions

We developed a 13-item minimum dataset with standardized definitions to support consistent, state-wide HAI surveillance and reporting. The dataset supports efficient data aggregation and will inform targeted prevention activities.

Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.

Highlights

•	Standardized 13-item HAI dataset for QLD via expert consensus for surveillance.
•	Identified key infection measures to streamline and unify statewide HAI reporting.
•	Enhanced data consistency for efficient aggregation and targeted prevention strategies.
•	Created a scalable HAI surveillance model to improve patient outcomes and global efforts.

Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.

Key Words : Infection control, Health care-associated infections, Health care quality, Delphi technique, Infection prevention, Patient safety

Plan

Definition of methodological terms

Study procedures

Round 1: Delphi survey

Round 2: Expert consensus panel

Practice, policy and research implications

Strengths and weaknesses

Conclusions

	Funding/support: JS received funding from a Queensland Health Clinical Research Fellowship to undertake this project.
	Conflicts of interest: None to report.
	Ethics approval: This study was conducted in compliance with all stipulations of the study protocol, the conditions of ethics committee approval, the NHMRC National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research and the Note for Guidance on Good Clinical Practice (CPMP/ICH-135/95).
	Availability of data and materials: Requests for data access can be directed to the corresponding author.

Export

Vol 53 - N° 8

P. 849-854 - août 2025 Retour au numéro

Article précédent

Review of state regulations related to environmental sanitation in long-term care facilities
Ruwan Dissanayake, Emily E. Johnson, Mary E. Leong, Angela M. Fraser

| Article suivant

Health care-associated infections and antimicrobial use: The third point prevalence survey on 42 acute care hospitals in Piedmont, Italy, 2022
Antonino Russotto, Claudia Gastaldo, Stefania Di Giacomo, Stefano Bazzolo, Dario Gamba, Carla Maria Zotti, Costanza Vicentini, on behalf of the “UPRI” working group

Bienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
L’accès au texte intégral de cet article nécessite un abonnement.

Déjà abonné à cette revue ?

connectez-vous ou créez un compte

Expert consensus and recommendations for health care-associated infection surveillance in Queensland, Australia: A modified Delphi study - 11/07/25

Résumé

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Highlights

Plan

Export citations

Fichier

Contenu

Accès rapides

Mon compte

Aide & support

Plateformes Elsevier Masson

Déclaration CNIL