SABSI is an indicator of the safety and quality of hospital care
The rate of healthcare-associated Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections is an indicator under the Australian Health Performance Framework and under the National Healthcare Agreement (NHA).
The NHA sets out objectives for state and territory governments for health care services. A performance benchmark for healthcare-associated SABSI in public hospitals is included for the outcome area Australians receive appropriate high quality and affordable hospitals and hospital-related care.
It includes a performance benchmark for public healthcare-associated SABSI of no more than 2.0 cases per 10,000 days of patient care under surveillance (‘patient days’) for acute care public hospitals. This benchmark does not apply to private hospitals but may be noted in SABSI reporting for private hospitals.
Data from the NSABDC have shown that the rate of SABSI (both MSSA and MRSA) has been fewer than 2.0 cases per 10,000 patient days for public hospitals in each state and territory every year since rates were first published in 2010–11. Data have also been below the forthcoming new benchmark of 1.0 cases per 10,000 patient days in each state and territory every year since 2016–17.
Appendix B provides a more detailed description of the NHA performance indicator relating to SABSI.