Page 2
Infection control is an essential part of health care. The changing epidemiology of disease, widening scope of practice of health care providers and increased occupational risks associated with provision of health care have precipitated a review of infection control in Australia. Evidence-based infection control practice across nursing, medicine and dentistry is evolving. However, there is limited infection control research in the pre-hospital care environment. Shaban identified the need to review ambulance paramedic infection control guidelines as a result of changing patterns of health care in the pre-hospital environment, new disease epidemiology and a lack of sound, specific research into pre-hospital infection control. This study aimed to establish baseline data on knowledge and reported practice in the pre-hospital context. In particular, this research examined levels of paramedic knowledge of infectious disease aetiology and modes of transmission in the pre-hospital environment. A thorough literature search failed to locate any research that examined paramedic knowledge of the aetiology and transmission of infectious disease in ambulance care specific to the Australian setting. The literature review located a large body of research in the nursing, medical and dental disciplines. Isolated studies have been conducted in the United States examining Emergency Medical Technicians’ (EMTs) knowledge of infection control and infectious diseases. Mencl et al. surveyed 425 EMTs on knowledge of transmission of four infectious diseases, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis, meningitis and tuberculosis. Questions about knowledge of universal precautions, transmission routes and postexposure actions, and items examining personal concerns about infectious diseases were surveyed. Mencl et al. found poor knowledge of universal precautions, transmission routes and postexposure action and argued for further continuing EMT education in these areas focusing on routes of transmission, risk of exposure, appropriate use of postexposure prophylaxis and requirements for follow-up testing.