May 2023 saw the latest visit from a multidisciplinary team to the Solomon Islands, as part of PRIDA’s commitment to COMBAT AMR – a collaboration between the Australian and and Solomon Islands governments involving a one world health approach to limiting antimicrobial resistance in the pacific island nations.

Since its inception in March 2021, the fledgling program has established itself as an important resource for continued quality improvement in this important area of health management.

The latest visit involved a variety of different experts headed up by PRIDA’s Dr Nicola Townell, the Solomon Islands program lead, which included two ID physician/microbiologists, two senior scientists, two infection control specialists and two pharmacists with AMR expertise.

Activities included Grand Rounds, workshops with local medical, nursing and pharmacy staff, and a particular focus on appropriate insertion and management of intravascular devices. Animal health experts also conducted workshops, aimed at the frequently overlooked issue of antibiotic use in domestic livestock. A cornerstone of the program has been the achievement of sustainable improved practices through successful education and mentoring programs at all levels of health care.

With the majority of initial program aims met, important ongoing needs were identified. These include maintaining virtual technical support and further infection control and AMR education and training. The battle against AMR continues.

With the resumption of international travel allowing a welcome return to more personal interactions, PRIDA consultants  Ms Wendy Jackson and Dr Indy Sandaradura visited the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital (TTMH) in July 2023.

PRIDA has long-standing supportive ties with Samoa, and during the COVID-19 pandemic remained in virtual contact with Samoan clinical and laboratory teams at the TTMH . This included weekly virtual Laboratory Rounds and Clinical Case Discussion sessions.

The consultants attended Grand Rounds with the various clinical teams at the hospital to experience first-hand some of the complex cases at the “coal face” in Samoa.

Daily training sessions were held in conjunction with laboratory staff to help maximise effective reporting and transfer expertise. In particular, bench tests to help improve culture interpretation and early recognition of multi-resistant organisms were demonstrated and implemented.

The consultants gave several well-attended seminars on relevant topics, including infection control, neonatal sepsis, and antibiotic susceptibility testing for multi-resistant organisms.

Important consultations also took place with government representatives from the Ministry of Health and the National Kidney Foundation of Samoa, regarding the special requirements for the nation’s dialysis patients.

Other aims of the visit included examining existing Infection Prevention Management and Control capacity within the hospital, as well as providing advice to the pharmacy service.

A key outcome was the finalisation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for PRIDA to continue to support the Samoan Ministry of Health in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. 

Future plans are in place following this successful visit to assist with ongoing development of laboratory services at the TTMH, and continued mentoring for staff.