title: Healthcare-associated infections in Australia: time for national surveillance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Healthcare-associated infection (HAI) surveillance programs are critical for infection prevention. Australia does not have a comprehensive national HAI surveillance program. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of established international and Australian statewide HAI surveillance programs and recommend a pathway for the development of a national HAI surveillance program in Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study examined existing HAI surveillance programs through a literature review, a review of HAI surveillance program documentation, such as websites, surveillance manuals and data reports and direct contact with program representatives.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Evidence from international programs demonstrates national HAI surveillance reduces the incidence of HAIs. However, the current status of HAI surveillance activity in Australian states is disparate, variation between programs is not well understood, and the quality of data currently used to compose national HAI rates is uncertain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need to develop a well-structured, evidence-based national HAI program in Australia to meet the increasing demand for validated reliable national HAI data. Such a program could be leveraged off the work of existing Australian and international programs.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, Qld 4059, Australia. Email:.
authors.forename: Philip L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Prahran, Vic. 3181, Australia. Email.
authors.forename: Allen C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health, University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia. Email.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, Qld 4059, Australia. Email:.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Graves
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, Qld 4059, Australia. Email:.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance