Disclaimer
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Infection prevention and control guidelines for general practices and other office-based and community-based practices (5th edition) (the Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines) is a guide to assist health professionals and other staff implementing procedures involving infection prevention and control.
In using the Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines, please note the following.
The Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines ordinarily conform with Australian standards and authoritative texts on the subject. However the Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines in some instances depart from Australian standards and other authoritative texts where it is considered that the standards they impose, for example upon a hospital environment, are out of proportion to tangible risks in medical practice generally.
The Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines were reviewed by experts in the fields of infection prevention and control, infectious diseases, microbiology and general practice who the RACGP believed to be reputable and reliable. While the Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines were current at the date of first publication, the RACGP recognises the changing and evolving nature of infection prevention and control and does not guarantee this publication is or will remain accurate, current or complete.
The Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines are not, and are not intended to be, an exhaustive and comprehensive text on the subject. Instead, the information is intended for use as a guide of a general nature only. The Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines may or may not be relevant to particular practices or circumstances. Whilst the text is primarily directed to health professionals, it is not to be regarded as professional advice and must not be considered a substitute for seeking professional advice. Persons implementing any processes identified in the Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines must exercise their own independent skill or judgement or seek appropriate professional advice relevant to their own particular circumstances when so doing.
Care and common sense should be exercised in applying the Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines to a practice. Compliance with these Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines does not guarantee the discharge of any duty of care owed to patients or others coming into contact with the health professional and the premises from which the health professional operates.
To the extent permitted by law, the RACGP does not make any warranties of any kind, express or implied (including as to fitness of purpose or otherwise), nor it does it guarantee the satisfaction of relevant laws (including duties or privacy laws), and it excludes all liability to anyone in relation to the Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines. Such excluded liability includes that for loss or damage (including indirect, special or consequential damages), cost or expense incurred or arising by reason of any person using or relying on the information contained in the publications, whether caused by reason of any error, any act or omission (whether negligent or not), or any inaccuracy or misrepresentation in the information in each publication.
While this publication was made possible with funding support from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, the Commonwealth of Australia does not accept any legal responsibility for any injury, loss or damage suffered as a result of the use, reliance upon, or interpretation of the information contained in the Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines.
Recommended citation
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Infection prevention and control guidelines for general practices and other office-based and community-based practices. 5th edn. East Melbourne, Vic; RACGP: 2022.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
100 Wellington Parade
East Melbourne VIC 3002 Australia
T 03 8699 0414
F 03 8699 0400
www.racgp.org.au
ISBN 978-0-86906-383-5
© The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, 2022
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