Healthcare associated infections

Victorian health services are dedicated to delivering safe, efficient and effective healthcare to the community.

A patient can develop an infection (e.g. golden staph) while receiving treatment in hospital and suffer serious consequences (e.g. prolonged hospital stay or even death). These infections can potentially be preventable.

Tap the buttons below for specific data about healthcare associated infections in public hospitals in Victoria, including golden staph bloodstream infection rates. You can filter by health service.

Scroll further down for more information about the data (measures).

About the data

The above measures look at:

  • rate of central line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSI) in intensive care units, per 1,000 central line days
  • rate of Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemias (golden staph bloodstream infections) per 10,000 patient days
  • surgical site infection rate status.

About central line (catheter) associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in ICU

CLABSI infections can occur when a patient in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) develops a bloodstream infection which is associated with having a central line in place.

Most infections can be prevented through following optimal  insertion techniques and quality management and care of the catheter.

Data show the number of central line-associated bloodstream infections per 1,000 central line days.

About S. aureus bacteraemias (SAB) (golden staph) bloodstream infections

SAB is a bloodstream infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus (golden staph).

Patients with SAB (golden staph) infections are more likely to experience complications and longer hospital stays.

Data show the number of infections per 10,000 patient/bed days (a day or part of a day a patient is admitted to hospital).

About surgical site infection rate status.

A hospital patient can develop a Surgical Site Infection (SSI) after undergoing surgery involving an incision.

SSIs are surgery complications that can have serious consequences and can result in a patient requiring further treatment.

Data is collected for SSIs that occur in Victorian public hospitals for the following procedures:

  • coronary artery bypass grafts
  • hip arthroplasty (joint replacement)
  • knee arthroplasty (joint replacement)
  • caesarean section (for The Royal Women’s Hospital and Mercy Health only).

Where the infection rate for a health service is not higher than expected compared with other hospitals using statistical testing, it is listed as 'achieved' (tick symbol). Otherwise, it is ‘not achieved’ (cross symbol).

Data are only shown for hospitals that undertake orthopaedic joint replacements and/or coronary artery bypass surgery.

Notes

  • Data source: Victorian Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance System (VICNISS). Data extracted on 16 April 2026.
  • Results are lagged by one quarter.
  • SSI results are reported quarterly using 6 months’ rolling data. There are no statewide results for SSI status.
  • Results for the SAB infections measure are suppressed (displayed as NP) when patient/bed days were less than or equal to 2,500 in the reporting period.
  • Results for the current financial year are preliminary and may change from quarter to quarter. Final results will be available in November. Results from the previous financial year have been finalised.
  • * No results are available.
  • Erratum: Prior to Jan-Mar 2025, Rate of central line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSI) in intensive care units, per 1,000 central line days results for Albury Hospital were published under Wodonga Hospital. This has been retrospectively corrected in the Q3 2025-26 release.