Infection Services National Clinical Network
Supporting a consistent nationwide response to prevent, control and manage infections and infectious diseases.
Pātiki and Waharua Kōpito patterns
On this page
Supporting a consistent nationwide response to prevent, control and manage infections and infectious diseases.
The Infection Services National Clinical Network contributes to the prevention, control and management of infections and infectious diseases.
Here’s a summary of the different types of Infection Services:
- Infectious Diseases – diagnosis and management of complex infections
- Clinical Microbiology – laboratory diagnostic services for infections
- Antimicrobial Stewardship – optimal anti-infective use to gain the best outcomes and minimise harms at an individual and population level
- Infection Prevention and Control – facilitate a healthcare environment with processes, practices and physical spaces which prevent or mitigate infection risk to patients and healthcare workers.
Meet our members
| Name | Title or Role | Organisation |
| Carolyn Clissold |
Clinical Co-Lead |
Health New Zealand |
| TBC |
Clinical Co-Lead |
TBC |
| Jo Stoddart |
CNM, Prevention, Control Clinical Nurse Specialist |
Health New Zealand Southern |
| Jacqui Pennefather |
Infection, Prevention, Control and Patient Safety Quality Improvement General Manager |
Health New Zealand Whanganui |
| Elizabeth Bryce |
Infection, Prevention and Control Nurse Specialist |
Health New Zealand Counties Manukau |
| Lisa Gilbert |
Infection, Prevention and Control Advisor and Chair |
Infection, Prevention, Control Nurses College |
| Sarah Berger |
Nursing Director Infection Prevention and Control |
Health New Zealand Waitaha and Canterbury and Te Tae o Poutini West Coast |
| Sandi Gamon |
Infection Prevention Team Lead |
Health New Zealand Waitematā |
| Matt Rogers |
Clinical Director Labs, Clinical Lead Infection Prevention and Control, Clinical Lead Northern Region Path Network |
Health New Zealand Waitematā |
| Michael Addile |
Clinical Microbiologist |
Pathlab |
| Eamon Duffy |
Antimircobial Stewardship Pharmacist and Advanced Practitioner - Infection |
Health New Zealand Te Toka Tumai |
| Neville Berry |
Interim National Lead Occupational Health |
Health New Zealand |
| Susan Jack* |
National Clinical Director, Medical Officer of Health |
NPHS - Health New Zealand |
| Michelle Balm* |
Infectious Disease Physician, Mircrobiologist, Infection Services Lead |
Health New Zealand - Capital Coast and Hutt Valley |
| Rachel Webb* |
Associate Professor Paediatrics |
University of Auckland |
| Lesley Voss |
Lead Clinician Paediatric ID |
Health New Zealand Starship |
| TBC |
Rural Representative |
TBC |
| Susan Jack* |
National Clinical Director, Medical Officer of Health |
NPHS - Health New Zealand |
*or delegate - will rotate with members from their sub-specialty
Work plan objectives
The Infection Services National Clinical Network will discover, define, develop and deliver on the following themes.
| 1. | Safe Invasive Procedures: Patients will not be harmed by infection related to invasive procedures |
| 2. | Transmission Zero (in healthcare): Optimal diagnosis, placement and IPC care reduces transmission risk to other patients and staff |
| 3. | Safe healthcare environment: Patients will not be harmed by the healthcare environment ww |
| 4. | Optimum antimicrobial use: Patients with infections will have optimum and safe antimicrobial care in the appropriate setting |
| 5. | Safe, sustainable and equitable Infection Services through Aotearoa: Ensure safety and equity in infection services |
| 6. | Support Initiatives that target community transmission: Target reducing transmission of key infections /infectious disease in the community, especially in Māori, Pacific and other vulnerable communities |
Meet our Co-leads
Carolyn Clissold
Carolyn Clissold
Carolyn is a respected member of the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) community with more than 15 years’ experience as an IPC Clinical Nurse Specialist at Capital and Coast.
She was an IPC nursing representative on the Healthcare Acquired Infection Governance Group, Healthcare Anti-microbial Resistance Committee and COVID IPC sub-technical advisory group. Carolyn is also former chair of the IPC nursing college (2018-2022).
Since January 2023 Carolyn has been seconded from her IPC nursing position to a Chief Clinical Advisor position in Health NZ. In this role she has provided IPC input into public health advice and has chaired the COVID clinical advisory group. This cohesive multidisciplinary group has provided advice on COVID-19 issues as they affect health care and communities.
Carolyn also provides leadership to the Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) technical advisory group, a national multi-disciplinary group which has input from microbiologists, infectious disease specialists and infection prevention and control nurses. This group has provided advice and leadership for the Te Manawa Taki hospital’s outbreak of VRE.
She has a proven ability to build working committees and drive progress, demonstrated by her implementation of a national IPC training programme in her time as the chair of the IPC nursing college.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the Infections Services National Clinical Network, please email InfectionServicesNetwork@tewhatuora.govt.nz