Infection Prevention and Control in the Pacific Region
Author: Margie Evans; Matt mason
The Pacific Region Infectious Disease Association (PRIDA) is a multidisciplinary organisation of members who volunteer their time to support teams across the Pacific. Members include infectious diseases clinicians, microbiologists, scientists, pharmacists, and Infection Prevention & Control (IPAC) nurses.
This presentation will highlight the work PIRDA teams have undertaken in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Samoa. This includes working through challenges that arise from limited resources such as limited safe water supply, inconsistent electricity supply, limited infrastructure, inadequate CSSD equipment and resources, limited or no supply of appropriate cleaning chemicals, and inadequate instrumentation for a range of clinical and IPAC activities.
PRIDA walks with Pacific IPAC colleagues, building relationships and friendships over time. This develops an understanding of individual needs through mentorship and support. PRIDA support includes working together on policies/procedures, educational resources, and risk management processes. PRIDA members join Zoom meetings for lab rounds where discussion occurs around the management and reporting of microbiological tests, and multidisciplinary bloodstream infection meetings to discuss positive blood culture results. In these meetings PRIDA members add an IPAC perspective to support local teams in managing these processes and outcomes.
PRIDA members always gain more than we give in these relationships. If you are interested in volunteering, please come and have a chat.