Don’t let the germs cross the barrier: The role of neuroscience nurses in preventing brain infections
Tracks
Tāwhirimātea 1
| Wednesday, August 26, 2026 |
| 2:30 PM - 2:50 PM |
| Tāwhirimātea 1 |
Overview
Dyan Fei Lariosa-di Mattina
Speaker
Mrs Dyan Fei Lariosa-di Mattina
7 South Clinical Nurse Educator
Capital And Coast Dhb
Don’t let the germs cross the barrier: The role of neuroscience nurses in preventing brain infections.
Abstract
Rationale:
Brain infections are among the most dangerous infectious diseases in the world, and they often need to be treated promptly (Le Govic et al., 2022). This study aims to reduce brain infection rates such as encephalitis, meningitis, EVD-related infections, and postoperative site infections. Furthermore, this presentation aims to evaluate the impact of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) nurses through stewardship and leadership on the implementation of IPC policies and measures.
Methodology:
The study used a quality improvement project using Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles in a 25-bed ward at Wellington Regional Hospital. Data on common brain infections was collected from 2020 to 2025. The IPC focus group was formed and composed of 9 nurses and 1 healthcare assistant that played a vital role in implementing hospital IPC policies. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE), hand hygiene, environmental cleaning and disinfection, and surveillance and reporting are the important measures of preventing brain infections. The intervention through robust staff education, role modeling, attending IPC meetings, and regular ward audits was implemented between March 2024 and October 2025. Audit data from hand hygiene, PIVC, and environmental cleaning were collected to review the effectivity of the quality improvement initiatives.
Significant results:
The presence of an IPC focus group significantly improved the audit results of PIVC, hand hygiene, and environmental cleaning within an 18-month period at our ward. There was an increase of staff awareness and involvement from IPC initiatives, which contributed to the overall improvement in infection prevention and control practices in the ward.
Conclusion:
Stewardship and leadership by the IPC focus group and managing the environment are vital in ward settings for effective implementation of IPC practices, ultimately reducing brain infections in the ward.
Recommendation:
We recommend continuing to have IPC champions in implementing policies and managing the environment to reduce brain infections.
Brain infections are among the most dangerous infectious diseases in the world, and they often need to be treated promptly (Le Govic et al., 2022). This study aims to reduce brain infection rates such as encephalitis, meningitis, EVD-related infections, and postoperative site infections. Furthermore, this presentation aims to evaluate the impact of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) nurses through stewardship and leadership on the implementation of IPC policies and measures.
Methodology:
The study used a quality improvement project using Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles in a 25-bed ward at Wellington Regional Hospital. Data on common brain infections was collected from 2020 to 2025. The IPC focus group was formed and composed of 9 nurses and 1 healthcare assistant that played a vital role in implementing hospital IPC policies. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE), hand hygiene, environmental cleaning and disinfection, and surveillance and reporting are the important measures of preventing brain infections. The intervention through robust staff education, role modeling, attending IPC meetings, and regular ward audits was implemented between March 2024 and October 2025. Audit data from hand hygiene, PIVC, and environmental cleaning were collected to review the effectivity of the quality improvement initiatives.
Significant results:
The presence of an IPC focus group significantly improved the audit results of PIVC, hand hygiene, and environmental cleaning within an 18-month period at our ward. There was an increase of staff awareness and involvement from IPC initiatives, which contributed to the overall improvement in infection prevention and control practices in the ward.
Conclusion:
Stewardship and leadership by the IPC focus group and managing the environment are vital in ward settings for effective implementation of IPC practices, ultimately reducing brain infections in the ward.
Recommendation:
We recommend continuing to have IPC champions in implementing policies and managing the environment to reduce brain infections.
Biography
Dyan Lariosa-Di Mattina, NZRN, PgDip, is the clinical nurse educator and has been working in the neuroscience ward at Wellington Regional Hospital for 11 years. She has been actively involved and presented in national and international neuroscience nurses' conferences for the past few years. During her nursing career, she realized that infectious diseases could be life-threatening and increase hospital stays for patients. Now, she wanted to educate and share data on how to prevent infection in the neuroscience ward. Her recent presentation at the NZ Neuro Symposium 2025 was titled “Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in a neuroscience ward: A nursing team approach” and won the People’s Choice award.
