Mr Savneel Shivam Kumar1, Miss Vilisita Saulekaleka1, Dr Mike Kama1, Dr Emosi Bayanivalu1, Dr Luse Buinimasi1, Dr Pratima Singh1, Dr Lusiane Savu1, Dr Alma Ulufonua1, Mrs Makareta Tamani1, Mrs Aliti Tamani1, Miss Shayal Sharma1, Dr Alipate Vakamocea2, Ms Bernadette Kennedy3, Dr Aneley Getahun Strobel4, Ms Donna Cameron3
1Tamavua Twomey Hospital, Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Suva, Fiji., Suva, Fiji, 2Australia Fiji Health Program, Fiji Program Support Platform, Suva, Fiji., Suva, Fiji, 3Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, the University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia., Melbourne, Australia, 4Department of Microbiology and Immunology, the University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity., Melbourne, Australia
Biography:
Savneel Kumar is the Manager Clinical Governance and IPC Liaison at Tamavua Twomey Hospital, Fiji. He previously managed the IPC Team at Fiji’s largest tertiary hospital (CWMH) in Suva. He completed the ACIPC Foundations Course in 2023. He currently sits on national committees for IPC, Clinical Governance, and AMR.
Abstract:
Background
Tamavua Twomey Hospital is a specialised facility in Fiji providing tuberculosis, rehabilitation, and dermatology services. An external infection prevention and control (IPC) assessment by the COMBAT-AMR Team identified significant gaps in IPC practices, particularly with hand hygiene (HH), environmental cleaning, disease surveillance, airborne precautions, waste management, infrastructure, and governance.
Methods
A multi-disciplinary working-group convened January 2025 facilitated tabletop discussions with management and staff, and review of IPC structures, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and audit tools. Current systems were benchmarked against national and international standards to address priority gaps.
Interventions
Key interventions included IPC capacity-building, WHO 5 Moments HH audit, comprehensive IPC audit tool development, and aligning environmental cleaning with standards. Measures also covered strengthening surveillance, standardising IPC practices, replacing damaged furniture, dedicated IPC staff, and integrating the Infection Control Committee into the Quality Improvement Committee.
Results
Interventions significantly strengthened IPC governance, surveillance, staff compliance, and outbreak preparedness. IPC training was provided for 254 staff, strengthening standardised practices across departments. A range of SOPs were developed including mandatory airborne precautions in tuberculosis departments. Soap and paper-towel dispensers were installed at all HH stations, 103 hand-rub brackets installed, and 54 patient mattresses replaced. HH compliance improved from 20% to 61%, high-touch surface cleaning compliance from 13.3% to 69% and waste management compliance from 76% to 97%.
Conclusion
This review demonstrates that targeted, low-resource, collaborative interventions can effectively strengthen IPC systems in Pacific healthcare settings. Sustained leadership engagement, workforce capacity building, and robust governance remain critical for long-term patient and staff safety.