• Evaluation research shows benefits of infection control workshops for regional nurses by Charles Sturt University with partner Murrumbidgee Local Health District
• In National Science Week (Saturday 12 to Sunday 20 August) the workshops in Wagga Wagga prove a practical example of science and highlighted the importance of infection control in health care facilities
• Infection prevention training is imperative for nurses as the frontline staff responsible for infection control, specimen collection and treatment delivery

Charles Sturt University in collaboration with the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) reinforces the importance of the science of microbiology and infection control for nurses in health care facilities.

A team of interdisciplinary staff from Charles Sturt University, Three Rivers Department of Rural Health, and the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) collaborated on the recent professional development training, ‘Microbiology in a Nutshell’.

This was the second workshop held in Wagga Wagga for rural nurses with a role in infection prevention. It focused on infection control practices and is an example of why the annual National Science Week (Saturday 12 to Sunday 20 August) is a celebration of science and technology.

Lecturer in Rural Health in the Charles Sturt Three Rivers Department of Rural Health Ms Kathryn Castelletto (main picture, at right) coordinated the workshop for 13 participants.

“Infection prevention training is imperative for nurses as the frontline staff responsible for infection control, specimen collection and treatment delivery,” she said.

The training content drew from several scientific disciplines  ̶  microbiology, medicine, pharmacology, pathology and nursing  ̶  and evaluations identified the top three benefits of the workshop were the case study, discussions with microbiology and infection control specialists, and a hospital pathology laboratory tour.

“Some attendees reported that before this, they had not seen the microbiology laboratory or had a thorough understanding of the reasons and specifics of collection requirements, which the tour and workshop content provided,” Ms Castelletto said.

“Evaluations highlighted the value of the workshop and participants said they would recommend it to health care colleagues and others.”

Evaluation data from the first workshop, held in 2020, has been published in Microbiology Australia, and evaluation data from the 2023 workshop was a poster presentation at the 9th Rural and Remote Health Scientific Symposium in Canberra in June this year.

Lead author of the study ‘Microbiology education for rural nurses: continuing professional development strategies’ (published online 23 June 2023) was Dr Elyce Green, Senior Lecturer in Rural Health in the Three Rivers Department of Rural Health.

She said nurses play an important role as frontline staff in infection control and continuing professional development in microbiology is key to helping nurses stay up-to-date with the latest developments in this area.

“Our pilot study was conducted to determine the value of a microbiology laboratory-based workshop to support regional nurses,” Dr Green said.

“The team of microbiology academics and clinical microbiologists presented the laboratory-based workshop at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga and conducted pre- and post-workshop surveys of participants.

“After the workshop the participants were significantly more confident explaining the process of culturing and identifying organisms from clinical samples, and the importance of antimicrobial resistance in relation to common healthcare-associated infections.”

The evaluation found the nurses better understood the cutting-edge technology used in the rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases, and which antibiotics are appropriate for different bacterial infections.

Dr Green said continuing professional development opportunities such as workshops are vital for nurses in rural locations, particularly as health professional shortages in rural areas mean that nurses at all levels are required to take a lead role in infection control practices.

“This collaboration with the Murrumbidgee Local Health District is planned to continue and will aim to offer one microbiology workshop each year to rural nurses in the Murrumbidgee region,” she said.

Find more information about studying the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (Pathology) at Charles Sturt University.