A hospital-based education programme for infection control in Australia

Fremantle Hospital, a 400-bed teaching hospital has offered an infection control course for registered nurses since 1984. The number of nurses practising infection control in the state of Western Australia has increased from seven in 1984 to over 100. Country areas now have access to appropriate advice. The course is hospital-based and multidisciplinary and is constantly evolving. It lasts for two weeks, is economic and wastage is low due to careful selection of candidates. Basic infection control standards have improved, but teaching of medical and allied health staff and line managers has not yet been addressed. Nurses from overseas are now applying for the course and a regional network of infection control practitioners is a major aim.