Hand Hygiene Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Clinical Guideline
Version 2.0 approved 18 August 2025
The purpose of the Hand Hygiene Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Clinical Guideline (PDF 372KB) is to provide exemplar information about the principles of hand hygiene and the availability of recommended guidelines which support best practice as part of an overarching infection prevention and control program.
The Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) provides information regarding hand hygiene and hand hygiene programs for health service organisations being accredited to the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards.
As per the NSQHS Standards, a hygiene program is to be consistent with the current National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI) and the service organisation demonstrate that it uses the results of audits to improve hand hygiene compliance.
Monitoring as a key performance indicator of patient safety and quality of healthcare delivery should occur (as applicable) as per the SA Health Performance framework and national requirements as per the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Scope of guideline
This clinical guideline applies to all employees and contractors of SA Health that is all employees and contractors of the Department for Health and Wellbeing, Local Health Networks (including statewide clinical services aligned with those Networks) and SA Ambulance Service.