Marcus Kusiak
Biography:
Marcus Kusiak is the Manager of Infection Prevention at Monash Health, Victoria’s largest public health service. He is an experienced infection prevention leader with a background spanning critical care nursing, clinical governance, respiratory protection and organisation-wide infection prevention programs. Marcus leads infection prevention strategy and service delivery across a large and complex multi-site health service, with a strong focus on clinical risk, workforce capability, accreditation and sustainable systems improvement. He has a particular interest in translating infection prevention principles into practical, risk-based approaches to complex healthcare challenges and strengthening organisational systems to support safe, consistent and effective infection prevention practice.
Abstract:
Problem
Mould in healthcare facilities is complex. For large, multi-site health services with ageing infrastructure and vulnerable patients, mould intersects clinical risk, infection prevention (IPC), occupational health and safety (OHS), engineering, operational continuity, and organisational governance.
International guidance addresses individual aspects; however, no unified, locally applicable framework integrates these considerations. Risk depends not only on mould presence, but patient vulnerability, contamination extent, moisture source, ventilation, construction activity, aerosolisation, and operational impacts. Without consistent organisation-wide assessment and escalation, responses risk unnecessary disruption and cost or under-recognition of clinical risk.
What was done
A specialist-led audit of high-risk clinical areas identified mould, moisture, ventilation and infrastructure issues. With Executive sponsorship, findings informed an organisation-wide strategy supporting reactive management and preventative monitoring. IPC, Engineering, OHS, Operations and clinical stakeholders developed a structured risk assessment incorporating patient vulnerability, environmental and infrastructure factors, exposure potential and remediation complexity, with escalation management pathways.
Results
The framework is designed to provide consistent, tiered prioritisation of clinical areas, clarify escalation and reporting responsibilities, and address gaps in Australian guidance.
Conclusions and lessons learnt
Effective mould management requires an organisational, systems-level approach. Cross-disciplinary collaboration, Executive support and locally adapted risk tiering enable early escalation, shared risk assessment, clear accountability and proportionate responses to environmental hazards and patient vulnerability.