Luca Comisi

Infection Prevention and Control has been a cornerstone of my professional life. My passion for the field began during my Nursing degree at university, where I completed the Infectious Diseases module. Since then, I have committed myself to advancing in this specialty, continually striving to improve as a professional. This dedication is reflected in my work and academic achievements, particularly my MSc in Infection Prevention and Control, which I completed with distinction.

Throughout my university years, I was strongly influenced by leading experts in the field, and I demonstrated my abilities through various academic projects and assignments. These included a complex initiative aimed at reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) and another focused on minimising blood culture contamination. These projects centred on improving catheter care, enhancing staff education, and developing successful improvement plans using NHS improvement tools such as Process Mapping, Driver Diagrams, and the PDSA (Plan, Do, Study, Act) cycle to measure outcomes.

Learning from experts in the field has helped me gain valuable, specialised knowledge in areas such as leadership principles, standard and isolation precautions, management of invasive devices, healthcare-associated infections, epidemiology, water systems management, antimicrobial stewardship, infection control in the environment, surveillance, outbreak control, Root Cause Analysis, and improvement science.

As an Infection Prevention and Control Nurse Specialist at a London acute trust, I have developed the ability to motivate, inspire, and guide junior staff towards achieving high standards. I believe in the importance of developing junior staff while supporting senior members to strengthen the team and improve its effectiveness. I have honed my skills in identifying and anticipating clinical risks, ensuring patient safety—a competency I demonstrated particularly during the global pandemic response. Additionally, I have learned to manage IPC in an acute setting, adapting to a fast-paced environment and making quick decisions to prevent and manage infections.

After my experience in the acute trust, I decided to transition my career to the community setting by joining the Integrated Care Board (ICB). This shift has allowed me to expand my expertise in infection control within community settings. During my time at the ICB, I have conducted over 200 audits in care homes, supported living facilities, and other community healthcare services, producing quality reports and tailored action plans. I have also shadowed district nurses, providing infection control recommendations.

Furthermore, I have contributed to the development and distribution of the NEL-wide catheter passport and worked on a Gram Negative Blood Stream Infections (GNBSI) Reduction Quality Improvement Project. This project focused on improving both community and hospital staff knowledge, arranging regular training sessions, reviewing community healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) cases to identify trends, and facilitating lessons learned. I have also supported acute trusts to ensure adherence to national guidelines, offering guidance and advice during infection outbreaks, reviewing building project plans in the community, and leading multidisciplinary improvement projects.

Additionally, I have supported the development of IPC Champions in the community, providing care homes, supported living, and domiciliary care staff with IPC knowledge and education to support continuous improvement and sustainability to protect patients and staff from infections.

In both hospital and community settings, I have also answered staff enquiries and provided tailored advice in line with national guidelines and the most recent evidence-based practices. This has enhanced my decision-making skills. I approach challenges with a risk-based perspective, ensuring alignment with local policies, national guidelines, and World Health Organisation protocols.

I also deliver education and training programmes to both small and large groups, including healthcare assistants, student nurses, qualified nurses, doctors, and community settings managers and IPC Champions. I consistently receive positive feedback through evaluations and verbal compliments. This aspect of my role is particularly meaningful to me, as I am passionate about practice development and ensuring staff are confident and competent in clinical areas, directly impacting the quality of care we provide to patients.

As an individual, I adopt an innovative approach to practice and continuously seek the latest evidence-based practices by reading scientific articles to stay current in the field. I take a proactive approach to my work, prioritising tasks based on service needs and working both independently and collaboratively within a team. I have also developed strong IT skills, particularly with full Microsoft Office package, through my five years of study for a Diploma in Information Technology. Additionally, I am proud to have been part of the NHSI Collaborative group, attending training and conferences on CAUTI reduction to drive improvements within the Trust.

Finally, I am a dynamic, enthusiastic, and reliable individual, flexible with working shifts when required. I am confident that I have demonstrated my passion for the field in my current role and am eager to continue developing professionally. I consistently strive to meet the high standards expected by the Trust and to meet tight deadlines in an ever-changing service environment. My ultimate ambition is to serve as a role model to my junior colleagues and clinical staff, contributing to the Trust’s goal of becoming one of the best in the country. I firmly believe that this can be achieved through hard work, teamwork, and a commitment to continuous improvement.