Pacific Regional Infectious Disease Association (PRIDA): capacity-building for microbiology and infectious disease across the Pacific
Tessa Oakley A , Ian Marr B , Nikki Townell C , Claire Heney D , Wendy Jackson E , Margie Evans F , Bev Hall G , Colleen Allen H , Khin Chaw I and John Ferguson J KA Menzies School of Health Research, Dili, Timor-Leste
B Infectious Disease Department, The Canberra Hospital, ACT, Australia
C Infectious Disease Department, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Qld, Australia
D Pathology Queensland, Herston, Qld, Australia
E Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
F Infection, Prevention and Control. Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
G Independent researcher
H NSW Health, NSW, Australia
I Queensland Health, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
J Infectious Disease Department, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
K Email: John.Ferguson@health.nsw.gov.au
Microbiology Australia 42(4) 182-186 https://doi.org/10.1071/MA21051
Submitted: 11 August 2021 Accepted: 4 October 2021 Published: 8 November 2021
Journal Compilation © The Authors 2021 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND, published (by CSIRO Publishing) on behalf of the ASM
Abstract
PRIDA is an Australian based network of medical and scientific specialists, combining expertise in microbiology laboratory development, infection control, management of infectious diseases and antimicrobial stewardship. PRIDA focuses on grassroots support for Pacific and Southeast Asian sites through the establishment of long-term mentoring relationships with front line health care workers. With an emphasis on bench level training for scientists and bedside development for clinicians, PRIDA has advanced testing capacity, infection control and antimicrobial stewardship in the Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, and PNG. Understanding the need to upskill HCWs in the Pacific, PRIDA has expanded into areas of formal education opportunities with development of online microbiology diplomas, for pathologists, physicians, and scientists. Concurrent design of multidisciplinary virtual video conferenced microbiology rounds provides teaching opportunities in real time and improvement in daily patient care. From its origin of volunteerism, PRIDA has attracted funding through partnership with larger organisations and are currently involved in sponsored AMR projects in the Pacific.
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