Four exceptional research teams will share in over a $3.7 million funding boost under the National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) Targeted Call for Research (TCR): Improving infection prevention and control in residential aged care homes 2023.
These targeted projects will aim to stimulate research to better understand the factors that influence the successful implementation of infection prevention control programs in residential aged care homes.
Effective infection prevention control measures and practices reduce the risk of transmission of infections and the development of antimicrobial resistance. When implemented within aged care settings, such programs can protect older people, healthcare providers and others from harmful infections.
Each of the 4 research projects funded will receive close to $1 million to inform evidence-based interventions for infection prevention control programs that meet the varying needs of both public and private residential aged care homes across Australia and will also inform what actions are required for these programs to be successfully implemented.
Of those receiving funding, Professor Anton Peleg from Monash University will lead a research program to develop optimised models and approaches for infection prevention control in residential aged care homes. Through a highly engaged co-design process with people with lived experience and end users, Professor Peleg's program aims to improve the lives of residents by reducing their risk of infection.
University of Technology Sydney researcher, Dr Su-yin Hor, will partner with people in care, their families and carers, residential aged care providers and infection control experts to investigate how residents, staff, and the community can be kept safe from infectious diseases without compromising the rights, health and wellbeing needs of older people in care.
A TCR is a one-time request for grant applications to address a specific health issue where there is a significant research knowledge gap or unmet need. They are designed to stimulate research or build research capacity in a specific area of health and medical science to the benefit of Australians.
All the funding details announced today are available to download on NHMRC's outcomes of funding rounds webpage.
Quotes attributable to NHMRC CEO, Professor Steve Wesselingh:
- "Infection prevention and control practices that aim to minimise and stop the transmission of infections are critical in all environments. Residents of aged care homes are amongst those most vulnerable and at risk, stressing the need for continued improvements within these settings."
- "Our national research efforts must be directed towards adopting an evidence-based approach to infection prevention and control - this will ultimately improve the health and wellbeing of aged care residents and the wider community."
- "The outcomes of this targeted research will help to develop a solid evidence base to inform how existing measures and practices can be adapted to suit the unique environment of residential aged cares homes."
