Infection Services

Infection Services at CCDHB provides a comprehensive infection service dedicated to preventing and managing complex infections.

Clinical Infectious Diseases

We provide specialist advice on diagnosis and management of a wide variety of infections both within the hospital and in the Wellington/Kāpiti/Hutt Valley regions. We see people with:

• Infections after surgery
• Infections in immunocompromised people (e.g. having chemotherapy, immunotherapy or after an organ/bone marrow transplant)
• HIV infection
• Tuberculosis
• Travel associated infections such as malaria, dengue and typhoid
• Complex community infections

Complex Outpatient Antibiotic therapy

We provide integrated care from hospital to the home for those needing prolonged intravenous or oral antibiotic therapy for complex infections. The COPAT team includes ID specialists, ID registrars and the Antimicrobial pharmacist working with the Community health nursing team.

HIV service

We have a dedicated team of HIV trained physicians and a clinical nurse specialist who provide a free, confidential service to adults affected by HIV.  This team works with patients and with those involved with their care to educate about HIV infection, help patients understand how best to take their medications, provide a link between specialists and primary health care and connects patients with ongoing support services where needed.

Antimicrobial Stewardship

The aim of the antimicrobial stewardship team is to provide support to antimicrobial prescribers throughout the hospital in order to optimise the use of antibiotics to reduce harm to patients and improve outcomes. Integral to the team is the Antimicrobial pharmacist. We also provide education and support for community prescribers where possible.

Infection Prevention and Control

This team includes Infection prevention specialists with nursing, infectious diseases and microbiology backgrounds. The aim is to ensure a safe working environment across the healthcare services in hospitals and the community within our region that minimises the risk of infection to patients/residents, staff and visitors. We provide support for Aged and Residential Care facilities across the region. We work closely with Regional Public Health on infections with public health risk including outbreak and pandemic management.

Research and Education

Our team is active in providing education on issues related to prevention, diagnosis and management of infections and contribute to regional and national research projects relating to infection. We have links with University of Otago and Victoria University of Wellington.

During your treatment you may meet:

• Specialist doctors – who have specialised in infectious disease medicine
• Specialist nurses
• Registrars (a doctor training to become a specialist)

Our team includes:

Consultants:

• Dr Michelle Balm, Infectious Diseases physician/Clinical Microbiologist, Clinical Leader
• Assoc. Professor Tim Blackmore, Infectious Diseases physician/Clinical Microbiologist
• Dr Max Bloomfield, Infectious Diseases physician/Clinical Microbiologist
• Dr Olivia Bupha-Intr, Infectious Diseases physician
• Dr Nigel Raymond, Infectious Diseases/General Medicine physician

Clinical Nurse Specialists:

• James Rice-Davies, HIV Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Carolyn Clissold, Infection Prevention and Control Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Karen Corban, Infection Prevention and Control Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Aiddie Plimmer, Infection Prevention and Control Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Henrietta Sushames, Infection Prevention and Control Clinical Nurse Specialist

Antimicrobial Pharmacist:

• Cat Li

You’ll need to be referred to our service.  Non-urgent reviews and assessments are generally requested by your GP.  Other services within the hospital will also refer you if they feel that specialist infectious disease care will be beneficial to your treatment.

What can I expect if the infectious disease team are involved in my care while I am a patient in hospital (in-patient)?

If your general practitioner (GP) or hospital specialist feels you require an urgent assessment for an infectious disease problem, they will discuss this with one of the infectious diseases doctors. One of the infectious diseases doctors will ask you some questions and examine you. We will usually need to do some tests such as blood or urine tests and x-rays.

During your hospital stay, the doctors looking after you will carefully explain what they think is causing your illness and what tests and treatment you will require. You will be able to ask questions at any time during your stay.

When you leave hospital your GP will receive a letter informing them of your diagnosis and what further tests, treatment and follow up will be required.

You may need to be seen by the Infectious Diseases Service in the outpatient clinic following your discharge from hospital.

What can I expect if I have an outpatient appointment?

If your general practitioner (GP) feels you need a non urgent assessment you will be referred to our outpatient clinic. An appointment will be scheduled for you with one of our doctors and a letter with appointment details will be sent to you.

When you come to your appointment, please bring:

• a list of the medications you are taking
• any x-rays or other medical information normally kept at home that may be relevant to this appointment (you do not need to seek this information from your GP or other doctors).

At your appointment, one of the doctors will ask you some questions and examine you. We will usually need to do some tests such as blood or urine tests and x-rays.

The doctor will explain what they think is causing your illness and whether you require further tests or treatment. You will be able to ask any questions you have at this time. You may need to be seen again in the infectious diseases clinic for further review.

Your general practitioner (GP) will receive a letter informing them of your diagnosis and what further tests, treatment and follow up will be required.

We’re based at Wellington Regional Hospital.

Ph: (04) 806 2610

Email: james.rice-davies@ccdhb.org.nz