Optometry Australia's infection control guidelines 2020.

ABSTRACT

Optometry Australia's infection control guidelines 2020 deliver a revision of the paper Infection control guidelines for optometrists 2016. A review of recent literature was undertaken, with information collected from peer-reviewed journal articles, guidelines from professional societies, government health departments and instructions from equipment manufacturers. This information was used to provide an update on current infection control best practice. The guidelines are presented in two sections standard precautions and transmission-based precautions. The standard (routine) precautions section covers hand hygiene; personal protective equipment; safe handling and disposal of sharps; routine environmental cleaning; reprocessing of reusable equipment, instruments and contact lenses; respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette; aseptic and clean technique; and waste management. The transmission-based precautions section covers considerations for optometry staff and/or patients when standard precautions alone may not be sufficient to prevent the spread of an infectious agent; particularly relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, a comprehensive list of disinfection or sterilisation techniques to use on reusable devices, instruments or equipment in optometric practice is provided in an Appendix.