Provincial Infection Control Network of BC (PICNet) - Public Health, Hospital, Residential & Community Care Standards

NEW Online Education Module: Prevention of Surgical Site Infections

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:23:00 -0800

PICNet is proud to annouce the release of our NEW Online Education Module: Prevention of Surgical Site Infections.

The Surgical Site Infection Prevention module uses real life photographs, graphics, interactive activities and video demonstrations to teach and discuss practices that prevent the development of a surgical site infection.

Upon completion of the SSI Prevention course the learner will be able to identify individuals who may be at higher risk for developing an SSI, be able to describe best practices for the prevention of SSIs, be familiar with both local and systemic signs of an SSI, and be able to demonstrate the correct method for taking a wound swab and discuss the interpretation of culture reports.

A survey of infection prevention and control resources in acute care facilities across British Columbia, Published in CJIC

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:11:00 -0800

"A survey of infection prevention and control resources in acute care facilities across British Columbia" was published in the Winter 2009 Canadian Journal of Infection Control (CJIC).

The Authors include, Bruce Gamage, Sarah Pugh, Margaret Litt, Dr. Elizabeth Bryce and the PICNet Needs Assessment Working Group.

For more information on the CJIC: http://www.chica.org/inside_cjic_journal.html

New Hand Hygiene Resouce Page

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 10:47:00 -0800

PICNet has added a new Hand Hygiene Resource Page to promote hand hygiene awareness and provide education tools for health care providers. The page can be accessed through our Education & Training section.

If you have resources to add to our list or you would like to provide feedback, please send us an email to picnet@phsa.ca.

Call for photography submissions for the 2010/2011 PICNet Calendar

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:58:00 -0800

Last year’s fiscal calendar was widely appreciated by our Community of Practice. We are currently working on this year’s calendar and we need your help. Are you a photographer at heart? Do you have an eye for visual arts? This is your chance to be featured in our calendar. Please submit your infection control related digital artwork or photography (JPEG or JPG format) to us by email to picnet@phsa.ca.

The deadline for submissions is February 28, 2010.

H1N1 and Pregnancy: Key Considerations for Vaccination and Management (Online Learning Program)

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:12:00 -0800

H1N1 and Pregnancy: Key Considerations for Vaccination and Management

Online learning program for health professionals.

mdBriefCase, in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, has developed an online learning program for health professionals on H1N1 immunization and pregnancy.

The learning objectives are:

1) Appreciate the risks posed by H1N1 infection to pregnant women and the fetus.
2) Identify the position of pregnant women in the Canadian and Provincial H1N1 vaccine priority lists.
3) Identify the benefits and risks of H1N1 vaccination in pregnancy.
4)Understand the differences between adjuvanted and unadjuvanted H1N1 vaccines for pregnant women.
5) Review clinical management considerations regarding the timing and mode of delivery of pregnant women requiring hospitalization for H1N1 influenza-like-illness (ILI).
6) Discuss the role of antiviral agents in pregnant women with H1N1 infection.

We encourage all health professionals to participate in the program. Registration is free. It takes approximately 1 hour to complete the program. The English version is now available. The French version will be posted on December 3, 2009.

This online CME event is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

To access the program:

www.mdBriefCase.com (for physicians)

www.rxBriefCase.com (for pharmacists)

www.AdvancingIn.com (for nurses and other healthcare professionals)

Provincial CDI Surveillance Program

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:28:00 -0800

We are looking forward to releasing the first province-wide aggregate report on the incidence of Clostridium difficle in BC later this year. The Surveillance Program is a collaborative effort between all five regional Health Authorities: Fraser Health, Interior Health, Northern Health, Vancouver Coastal Health and Vancouver Island Health Authority) as well as PHSA, Providence Health Care and affiliates. PICNet wishes to thank everyone involved in implementing this program as well as PICNet Surveillance Systems Coordinator Ellie Sheng who has been instrumental in the programs progress.

Once released, the report will be posted on our website