Screening and Management of Multi-resistant Organisms in Healthcare Facilities Policy
MP 0177/23 - Screening and Management of Multi-resistant Organisms in Healthcare Facilities Policy (pdf 178KB)
Applicable to: This policy is applicable to health service providers except Health Support Services, PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, and Quadriplegic Centre.
The Screening and Management of Multi-resistant Organisms in Healthcare Facilities Policy outlines the mandatory requirements for the screening and subsequent management of patients identified with a multi-resistant organism (MRO). This incorporates routine screening of certain patient populations being admitted to Western Australian public hospitals and implementation of stringent infection prevention and control precautions for patients identified with an MRO.
This policy ensures early detection, isolation and appropriate antibiotic therapy where required. It ensures a standardised approach for the management of MROs across all public hospitals to reduce the risk of MRO transmission and minimise the risk of patients acquiring a healthcare associated infection with organisms highly resistant to antibiotic treatment. In addition, there are specific screening requirements for staff in relation to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to minimise the risk of staff-to-patient transmission of this organism.
The MROs covered by this policy include Candida auris, carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumanii complex, carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa, MRSA and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).
The policy supports the requirements of the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards Preventing and Controlling Infections Standard for health organisations to implement systems to support antimicrobial stewardship including surveillance and management of MROs.
This policy is a mandatory requirement under the Public Health Policy Framework pursuant to section 26(2)(c) of the Health Services Act 2016.
This policy supersedes:
- OD 0399/12 Infection Prevention and Control of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) in Western Australian Healthcare Facilities
- OD 0478/13 Infection Prevention and Control of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Western Australian Healthcare Facilities (HCFs)
- OD 0646/16 Infection Prevention and Control of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci in Western Australian Healthcare Facilities (HCFs).
Date of effect: 18 April 2023
Policy Framework
Public Health
Guidelines-Screening-and-Management-of-Multi-resistant-Organisms-in-Healthcare-Facilities (pdf 498KB)
Guidelines-Screening-and-Management-of-MRSA-in-Healthcare-Workers (pdf 269KB)
National Health and Medical Research Council Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of infections in Healthcare
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare Recommendations for the control of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales 2021