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This study used survey methodology to examine paramedic knowledge of infectious disease aetiology and transmission in an Australian EMS. All clinical staff personnel (n=2274) in one State-wide service were eligible to participate in the study. An anonymous survey consisting of thirty-seven questions was constructed in consultation with an infection control and ambulance expert-working group (EWG). The content was in accordance with the NHMRC [6] infection control standards. The survey format was designed in three sections. Section one of the survey focused on the collection of demographic data. Questions used to assess knowledge of infection control were grouped in section two, and addressed a variety of infection control areas as determined by the EWG. Assessments of reported infection control practices were grouped in section three. The survey tool, information sheet and consent form were piloted. As a result of the pilot testing, minor editorial changes were made to questions in order to enhance clarity. Ethics approval was obtained from Griffith University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC). Surveys were sent to all eligible paramedic staff. The criterion for inclusion in this study was that the participant held a clinical or clinically related position, or a position that directly affected clinical outcomes of paramedic care. A total of 1258 surveys were returned and collated centrally, yielding a response rate of 55.3%. The average age of participants was 38.1 years, with 78.1% (n=983) of participants being male and 20.7% (n=260) being female. In the sample, the average length of ambulance service was 10.1 years. Paramedic knowledge of the aetiology of common epidemiologically significant infectious diseases was collected. Results for correct responses are listed in Table 1. Knowledge was deemed to be inadequate if a participant obtained less than 50% correct for the 25 diseases. More than 50% of participants could not correctly identify the aetiology for 8 of the 25 diseases. Interestingly, only three diseases were reported correctly by the majority of participants (that is, more than 80 percent), those being HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and influenza. Poorest results were observed for pertussis, infectious mononucleosis, leprosy, dengue fever, Japanese B encephalitis and vancomycin resistant enterococcus (VRE), all with less than half correct.

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