Accreditation practice pointer: manage risks of potential cross-infection in our practice

GP4.1D All members of our practice team manage risks of potential cross-infection in our practice

RACGP Standards for general practice.

The Criterion stipulates that all members of a practice team must manage risks of potential cross-infection in the practice by methods that include:

  • good hand hygiene practices

  • the use of PPE

  • triage of patients with potential communicable diseases

  • safe storage and disposal of clinical waste including sharps

  • safe management of blood and body fluid spills.

 Thus, general practice must be able to demonstrate that practice team members manage risks of cross-infection, has access to PPE and safely store and dispose of sharps and clinical waste. 

General practice might further support the Criterion by:

  • maintaining a policy and procedure manual on infection control

  • maintaining a cleaning policy

  • maintaining a cleaning log

  • discussing changes to laws and guidelines relating to infection control, local outbreaks and public health alerts at practice team meetings, and document these discussions.

Margot Schoonmaker