Ms Jannelle Carlile1
1Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick, Australia
Biography:
Jannelle, is a Clinical Nurse Consultant specialising in Infection Prevention and Control. She has a background in operating room nursing, is an Authorised Nurse Immuniser and has obtained a Master in Infection Prevention and Control. She is a co-author for the IPC chapter of textbook Perioperative Nursing, an Introduction.
Abstract:
Routine surveillance within a hospital is a pivotal strategy for monitoring infections and ensuring safe, high quality care is being delivered for our patients. The discovery of a new and novel infection for the first time in the hospitals laboratory results, sparked curiosity for the Infection Prevention and Control Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC).
Over the next seven months, curiosity turned into frustration for the CNC and the Neonatal team as six additional cases were identified and investigated. After each new case, a comprehensive team of experts both nursing and medical staff from across the hospital campus convened to discuss and implement a wide range of strategies aimed at mitigating the risk of further cases. Despite our ongoing efforts a source could not be easily identified. So what were we missing?
Whole genomic sequencing finally linked the source. NSW Health policies were followed to trigger the escalation processes for an outbreak. The Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC) and Therapeutic Goods Administration were notified. The ramifications of this finding were far reaching as the product was manufactured overseas. A NSW and Australian search for other cases was initiated and a recall of product occurred. Much work was then undertaken by the CEC team who sent alerts and collaborated with us and others to source alternative products.
In reflection, perseverance, teamwork and collaboration were invaluable components of this investigation. Thankfully this cluster resulted in no harm to the neonates and it was declared a pseudo bacteraemia outbreak.