Infection prevention and control: Guideline for speech pathologists, Version 1,2020.

Standard and Transmission-Based Precautions The NHMRC Guidelines outline a two-tiered approach to infection prevention and control, which provides high-level protection to speech pathologists, clients and others when effectively implemented. 6,9 This two-tiered approach and the principles within it generally apply regardless of the service location and includes: Standard and Transmission-Based Precautions The NHMRC Guidelines outline a two-tiered approach to infection prevention and control, which provide high-level protection to speech pathologists, clients and others when effectiv ly implemented. 6,9 This two-tiered approach and the principles within it generally apply regardless of the service location and inclu es: Early recognition of infectious agents and prompt implementation of appropriate infection prevention and control precautions is critical for minimising and preventing the spread of infection.

4.0

Routinely applied standard precautions for infection prevention as a minimum level of control.

[04] Infection Prevention and Control Framework: Over

Effective management of infectious agents where standard precautions may not be sufficient on their own by applying additional transmission-based. precautions

Standard precautions must be in place at all times.

Standard precautions Apply to everyone, all the time, regardless of their perceived or confirmed infectious status to minimise the risk of transmitting infectious agents. Standard precautions are the primary strategy for the prevention of infectious agent transmission. 18-19 Transmission-based precautions Apply when standard precautions alone are insufficient to prevent the transmission of infectious agents. The method of transmission of the infectious agent determines the precaution type. The three categories (see Figure 3) include contact, droplet and airborne. 9,20,21 There is robust discussion and emerging research concerning the specific details of droplet and airborne transmission (e.g., particle size and distance). Currently, these transmission-based precautions are defined as: Contact (including bloodborne) o The most common mode of transmission and usually involves transmission by direct touch (person-to-person) or indirectly by touching, contaminated environmental surfaces, shared aids/devices/equipment/toys), clothing or via contact with blood or body substances (e.g., vomit, saliva) 10 Standard precautions Apply to everyon , all the time, re ardles of their perceived or confirmed infectious status to minimise the risk of spreading infectious agents. Standard precautions are the primary strategy for the prevention of infectious agent tr nsmission . 18-19 •

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Infection Prevention and Control - Guideline for Speech Pathologists | Version 1, 2020