Ms Claire Dowling1, Mrs Samantha Butenko1, Karen McDonald1
1SA Health Covid Operations Infection Control Service, Adelaide, Australia
Background: Facilitating safe passage of international travellers from disembarkation at Adelaide Airport to arrival at a supervised quarantine facility, including adherence to the South Australian Emergency Management and Public Health Acts and with consideration of infection prevention and control (IP&C) principles during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Method or Actions: The provision of expert IP&C advice in collaboration with key stakeholders at Adelaide Airport and SA Health State Command Centre enabled the development of policies and procedures to establish an operational framework which included:
- Recommended personal protective equipment for a non-healthcare workforce that was reflective of exposure risk and responsive to task being undertaken
- Creation of “zones” and associated signage to establish an ingress and egress pathway and assist with physical distancing of travellers and staff
- Presence of an IP&C support staff member onsite at each international flight arrival
Regular COVID-19 surveillance screening of all staff
Results: SA had no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in staff working within this framework. The multi-agency response was collaborative, and all stakeholders worked together to ensure IP&C practices were adhered to and adapted based on best practice, including transition to particulate filter respirator use once airborne transmission of COVID-19 reported.
Conclusion: The development of an operational framework specific to COVID-19 represented a unique opportunity to collaborate with key stakeholders to create a safe airport environment for staff and travellers. This allowed Australians overseas during the pandemic to return home, whilst managing the risk of COVID-19 for the broader SA community.
Biography: Claire Dowling is a Nurse Consultant who worked for SA Health COVID Operations Infection Control Service throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. An experienced intensive care nurse, Claire has worked in the SA public health system for almost 15 years and is passionate about her career within infection prevention and control.
Karen McDonald obtained her credentialled ICP -primary status in August 2022 and has worked for SA Health’s CDCB COVID Operations as an Infection Control Nurse Consultant since August 2021. She has held several Infection control roles throughout her 22 years working as a Registered Nurse and completed the Foundations of IPC course through ACIPC in 2021. Karen has worked in a variety of specialities, including acute care, general practice, blood donation services and clinical worker health. She also holds tertiary qualifications in Health Science and is undertaking postgraduate study towards obtaining a Master’s in Public Health and Tropical Medicine