• Charles Sturt lecturers to offer microbiology training to Riverina nurses
• Training will assist nurses to implement infection control in hospitals and better advocate for their patients
• The training will be held at Charles Sturt in Wagga Wagga at the National Life Sciences Hub on Thursday 31 October

Charles Sturt University (Charles Sturt) lecturers are sharing their knowledge of microbiology with Riverina nurses to help infection control and patient advocacy in rural hospitals.

A microbiology training session will be held for up to 20 nurses from Wagga Wagga, Gundagai, Tumut, Temora and Hay at the Charles Sturt National Life Sciences Hub (NaLSH) in Wagga Wagga.

Lecturer in rural health with Three Rivers University Department of Rural Health (Three Rivers UDRH) Dr Elyce Green was approached a year ago by the Discipline Leader in Medical Science in the School of Biomedical Sciences Dr Thiru Vanniasinkam about running a workshop.

Dr Green said lecturers in microbiology have a unique knowledge base that will greatly benefit rural nurses.

The routine use of antibiotics is leading to increasing levels of antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens which can lead to drug resistant infections, according to Dr Green.

An increased understanding of microbiology by nurses in hospitals will assist with infection control and in collecting uncontaminated specimens for pathology testing.

“The training reiterates to nurses the importance of their role in the cycle of infection control,” Dr Green said.

“An understanding of the science behind it will help them break the pattern and become better patient advocates.”

Dr Vanniasinkam is one of the Charles Sturt lecturers, who together with a team of microbiologists in the School of Biomedical Sciences and School of Agriculture and Wine Sciences, will deliver the free training, which he said was a great way for the University to contribute to the Riverina community.

“It’s a valuable opportunity to develop these links between the University and nurses and train our future nurses and continue their professional development,” she said.

The training is sponsored by Three Rivers UDRH, Microbiology Society (UK) and Thermo Fisher Scientific Australia, and will be held from 9am to 2pm on Thursday 31 October at the NaLSH, building 289.