Biography
Dr Philip Russo has over 25 years nursing experience in a variety of health care settings. His early nursing career experience working in infectious diseases coinciding with the onset of HIV/AIDS in Australia sparked a passion in infection prevention which he maintains today.
Read more on Philip's profileBiography summary
Philip is currently an Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research - Alfred Health Partnership. After undertaking a Masters of Clinical Epidemiology, he held infection prevention roles at both a state and national level, and was involved in number of research projects. In 2016, he completed his PhD titled "Evidence based recommendations for national healthcare associated infection surveillance".
Dr Russo is a member of the Healthcare Associated Infection Advisory Committee for the Australian Safety and Quality in Health Care Commission, and a member of the National Health and Medical Research Council Infection Control Guidelines Advisory Committee. In 2017 he was elected as President Elect of the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control, the peak body for Infection Prevention and Control professionals in the Australasian region.
Currently he is leading the Australian National Healthcare Associated Infection Point Prevalence Survey, and collaborating on several other HAI related national projects. His Alfred Deakin post-doctoral work is exploring efficient methods to identify HAI surgical site infections.
Dr Russo has presented at both national and international conferences and published over 50 peer reviewed articles.
Research interests
Healthcare associated infection prevention | surveillance | epidemiology | implementation science
Affiliations
Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control
Society of Healthcare Epidemiologyof America - SHEA (USA)
Hospital Infection Society (UK)
Australian College of Nursing
Knowledge areas
Healthcare associated infection | Infection prevention and control | Quality and safety in health care | Surveillance | Epidemiology | Data validation | Public reporting of healthcare data | Antimicrobial resistance | Implementation frameworks | Control of communicable diseases | Infectious diseases
Conferences
Recent invited oral presentations
Russo PL. Healthcare Associated Infection surveillance practices in Australian Hospitals. Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control International Conference, 24-26 November 2014, Adelaide Australia
Russo PL. Preferences for a national HAI surveillance program: A Discrete Choice Experiment. Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control International Conference, 22-25 November 2015, Hobart, Australia
Russo PL. Electronic Surveillance. Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control International Conference, 21-23 November 2016, Melbourne, Australia.
Russo PL. Surveillance should be Australia’s next national initiative. Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control International Conference, 21-23 November 2016, Melbourne, Australia.
Russo PL. Hot issues in healthcare associated infection prevention. Victorian Perioperative Nurses Group State Conference. 3-4 August 2017. Melbourne, Australia.
Zheng H & Russo PL. The Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS). Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control International Conference. 20-22 November 2017, Canberra, ACT Australia.
Recent poster presentations
Russo PL, Cruickshank M and Grayson ML. 24 Month Outcomes From The Australian National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI). International Conference on Infection and Prevention and Infection Control. June 2011, Geneva
Russo PL, Cruickshank M, Grayson ML. The Implementation of the National Hand Hygiene Initiative. 8th HIS International Conference and Federation of Infection Societies Annual Conference 19-21 November 2012. BT Convention Centre Liverpool UK.
Russo PL, Hall L, Cheng AC, Richards M, Graves, N. National healthcare associated infection surveillance in Australia. IHBI Inspires Post Graduate Student Conference, 28-29 November 2013, Brisbane, QLD.
Russo PL, Cheng AC, Richards MJ, Graves N, and Hall L. Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) surveillance practices in Australian Hospitals.. Healthcare Infection Society Conference, 16-19 November 2014, Lyon, France (awarded best Surveillance poster).
Russo PL, Cheng AC, Richards MJ, Graves N, and Hall L. Evidence based recommendation for a national healthcare associated infection surveillance program. European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 9-12 April 2016. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Mitchell BG, Russo PL, Fasugba O, Cheng AC, Northcote M. Study protocol for reducing urinary catheter use: a randomised controlled study. Infection Prevention Society Conference. 20-23 September 2017, Manchester, UK.
Professional activities
President Elect, Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control
NHMRC Infection Control Guidelines Expert Advisory Committee
Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care, Healthcare Associated Infection Advisory Committee
Editorial Board Member, Infection, Disease and Health
Editorial Board Member, Journal of Infection Prevention (UK)
Awards
2017 - Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) International Ambassador ($4000)
2017 - Queensland University of Technology Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award ($1000)
2016 - Queensland University of Technology, Write up Scholarship ($4,400)
2014 - “Babe” Norman Scholarship – Nurses Memorial Centre ($90,000)
2014 - Australian College of Nursing – Centaur Nurses Memorial Education Trust ($5,000)
2013 - Medtronics Infection Control Grant ($15,000)
2013 - Queensland University of Technology, CRE in Reducing Healthcare Associated Infection Scholarship and Top up Scholarship ($30,000)
Projects
Current Research Projects
Australian National Healthcare Associated Infection Point Prevalence Survey - Principle Investigator
Improved detection of infections following surgery for meaningful public reporting - Principle Investigator
Consumer knowledge and attitudes of public reporting of healthcare associated infection data - Principle Investigator
Reducing catheter use: a randomised controlled study on the efficacy of an electronic reminder system - Chief Investigator
An exploration of infection prevention and control services, practice and priorities in Australian residential and aged care facilities - Chief Investigator
Publications
How long do nosocomial pathogens persist on inanimate surfaces? A scoping review
L Porter, O Sultan, B Mitchell, A Jenney, M Kiernan, D Brewster, P Russo
(2024), Vol. 147, pp. 25-31, Journal of Hospital Infection, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
S McGuinness, O Eades, K Grantham, S Zhong, J Johnson, P Cameron, A Forbes, J Fisher, C Hodgson, J Kasza, H Kelsall, M Kirkman, G Russell, P Russo, M Sim, K Singh, H Skouteris, K Smith, R Stuart, J Trauer, A Udy, S Zoungas, K Leder
(2023), Vol. 218, pp. 361-367, Medical Journal of Australia, London, Eng., C1-1
B Mitchell, A Stewardson, L Kerr, J Ferguson, S Curtis, L Busija, M Lydeamore, K Graham, P Russo
(2023), Vol. 12, pp. 1-9, Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, London, Eng., C1-1
"a Different Normal": Living with Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Australia
L Kerr, C Ilangakoon, P Russo
(2023), Vol. 46, pp. E328-E335, Cancer Nursing, Hagerstown, Md., C1-1
L Kerr, P Newman, P Russo
(2023), pp. 1-9, International Journal of Older People Nursing, London, Eng., C1-1
Psychosocial Interventions at the End-of-Life: A Scoping Review
N Chew, E Ting, L Kerr, D Brewster, P Russo
(2023), Vol. 46, pp. 432-446, Cancer Nursing, Philadelphia, Pa., C1-1
S McGuinness, J Johnson, O Eades, P Cameron, A Forbes, J Fisher, K Grantham, C Hodgson, P Hunter, J Kasza, H Kelsall, M Kirkman, G Russell, P Russo, M Sim, K Singh, H Skouteris, K Smith, R Stuart, H Teede, J Trauer, A Udy, S Zoungas, K Leder
(2022), Vol. 19, pp. 1-15, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Basel, Switzerland, C1
Burden of five healthcare associated infections in Australia
M Lydeamore, B Mitchell, T Bucknall, A Cheng, P Russo, A Stewardson
(2022), Vol. 11, Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, England, C1
B Mitchell, M Northcote, C Rickett, P Russo, M Amin, F De Sousa, K Pearce, J Sim, C Curryer
(2022), Vol. 126, pp. 93-102, Journal of Hospital Infection, C1-1
Epidemiology of Healthcare-associated Infections in Australia
R Shaban, B Mitchell, P Russo, D Macbeth
(2021), A1
Nurses' and midwives' cleaning knowledge, attitudes and practices: an Australian study
B Mitchell, P Russo, M Kiernan, C Curryer
(2021), Vol. 26, pp. 55-62, Infection, disease and health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
The nurses' role in antimicrobial stewardship: A scoping review
Pheona Van Huizen, Lisa Kuhn, Philip Russo, Clifford Connell
(2021), Vol. 113, International Journal of Nursing Studies, London, Eng., C1
C Cosentino, B Mitchell, D Brewster, P Russo
(2021), Vol. 49, pp. 1078-1084, American Journal of Infection Control, United States, C1
Louisa Gordon, Thomas Elliott, Brian Forde, Brett Mitchell, Philip Russo, David Paterson, Patrick Harris
(2021), Vol. 11, pp. 1-10, BMJ Open, London, Eng., C1
Enteral nutrition feeding practices by intensive care nurses: A retrospective evaluation
C Crossfield, T Bucknall, P Russo
(2021), Nursing in Critical Care, England, C1
B Mitchell, G Prael, C Curryer, P Russo, O Fasugba, J Lowthian, A Cheng, J Archibold, M Robertson, M Kiernan
(2021), Vol. 49, pp. 1058-1065, American Journal of Infection Control, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
K Morikane, P Russo, K Lee, M Chakravarthy, M Ling, E Saguil, M Spencer, W Danker, A Seno, E Charles
(2021), Vol. 10, pp. 1-10, Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, London, Eng., C1
C Curryer, P Russo, M Kiernan, K Wares, K Smith, B Mitchell
(2021), Vol. 49, pp. 1123-1128, American Journal of Infection Control, United States, C1
C Sotomayor-Castillo, S Nahidi, C Li, D Macbeth, P Russo, B Mitchell, M Cruickshank, T Sorrell, N Gilroy, P Ferguson, M Watts, R Shaban
(2021), Vol. 26, pp. 249-257, Infection, Disease and Health, Netherlands, C1
P Russo, E Saguil, M Chakravarthy, K Lee, M Ling, K Morikane, M Spencer, W Danker, N Yu, C Edmiston
(2021), Vol. 26, pp. 198-207, Infection, Disease and Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
T Haines, M Botti, N Brusco, L O’Brien, B Redley, K Bowles, A Hutchinson, D Mitchell, J Jellett, K Steen, L Boyd, M Mart, M Raymond, P Hunter, P Russo, R Bonnici, D Pu, S Sevenhuysen, V Davies, R Shorr
(2021), Vol. 16, PLoS ONE, United States, C1
Where is the strength of evidence? A review of infection prevention and control guidelines
B Mitchell, O Fasugba, P Russo
(2020), Vol. 105, pp. 242-251, Journal of hospital infection, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
R Shaban, C Sotomayor-Castillo, S Nahidi, C Li, D MacBeth, B Mitchell, P Russo
(2020), Vol. 41, pp. 777-783, Infection control and hospital epidemiology, C1
P Russo, A Stewardson, A Cheng, T Bucknall, B Mitchell
(2020), Vol. 25, pp. 262-267, Infection, disease and health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
R Shaban, C Sotomayor-Castillo, D Macbeth, P Russo, B Mitchell
(2020), Vol. 25, pp. 286-293, Infection, disease and health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
M Loftus, S Curtis, R Naidu, A Cheng, A Jenney, B Mitchell, P Russo, E Rafai, A Peleg, A Stewardson
(2020), Vol. 9, pp. 1-8, Antimicrobial resistance and infection control, Berlin, Germany, C1
Sally Havers, Philip Russo, Katie Page, Andrew Wilson, Lisa Hall
(2019), Vol. 47, pp. 366-370, American journal of infection control, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Consumer knowledge and attitudes toward public reporting of health care-associated infection data
P Russo, R Digby, T Bucknall
(2019), Vol. 47, pp. 656-660, American Journal of Infection Control, United States, C1
B Mitchell, M Northcote, A Cheng, O Fasugba, P Russo, H Rosebrock
(2019), Vol. 40, pp. 427-431, Infection control and hospital epidemiology, Cambridge, Eng., C1
Strategies to reduce non-ventilator-associated hospital-acquired pneumonia: a systematic review
B Mitchell, P Russo, A Cheng, A Stewardson, H Rosebrock, S Curtis, S Robinson, M Kiernan
(2019), Vol. 24, pp. 229-239, Infection, disease and health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
B Mitchell, R Shaban, D MacBeth, P Russo
(2019), Vol. 24, pp. 187-193, Infection, disease and health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
P Russo, A Stewardson, A Cheng, T Bucknall, B Mitchell
(2019), Vol. 8, Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, England, C1
P Russo, R Shaban, D MacBeth, A Carter, B Mitchell
(2018), Vol. 99, pp. 1-7, Journal of hospital infection, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
O Fasugba, A Cheng, P Russo, M Northcote, H Rosebrock, B Mitchell
(2018), Vol. 8, BMJ Open, London, Eng., C1
M Grayson, A Stewardson, P Russo, K Ryan, K Olsen, S Havers, S Greig, M Cruickshank
(2018), Vol. 18, pp. 1269-1277, The Lancet Infectious Diseases, United States, C1
P Russo, A Stewardson, A Cheng, T Bucknall, K Marimuthu, B Mitchell
(2018), Vol. 8, BMJ Open, England, C1
Healthcare-associated infections in Australia: tackling the 'known unknowns'
P Russo, A Cheng, B Mitchell, L Hall
(2017), Vol. 42, pp. 178-180, Australian health review, Clayton, Vic., C1
B Mitchell, R Shaban, D MacBeth, C Wood, P Russo
(2017), Vol. 22, pp. 117-128, Infection, disease and health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
What makes a tweet fly? Analysis of twitter messaging at four infection control conferences
B Mitchell, P Russo, J Otter, M Kiernan, L Aveling
(2017), Vol. 38, pp. 1271-1276, Infection control and hospital epidemiology, Cambridge, Eng., C1
P Russo, S Havers, A Cheng, M Richards, N Graves, L Hall
(2016), Vol. 44, pp. 1505-1510, American journal of infection control, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
P Russo, G Chen, A Cheng, M Richards, N Graves, J Ratcliffe, L Hall
(2016), Vol. 6, pp. 1-8, BMJ open, London, Eng., C1
Health-care-associated infections
S Havers, P Russo, B Mitchell, L Hall
(2015), Vol. 15, pp. 763-764, Lancet infectious diseases, London, Eng., C1-1
Variation in health care-associated infection surveillance practices in Australia
P Russo, A Cheng, M Richards, N Graves, L Hall
(2015), Vol. 43, pp. 773-775, American journal of infection control, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
P Russo, A Barnett, A Cheng, M Richards, N Graves, L Hall
(2015), Vol. 4, pp. 1-7, Antimicrobial resistance and infection control, London, Eng., C1-1
Healthcare-associated infections in Australia: time for national surveillance
P Russo, A Cheng, M Richards, N Graves, L Hall
(2015), Vol. 39, pp. 37-43, Australian health review, Clayton, Vic., C1-1
Clostridium difficile infection: nursing considerations
B Mitchell, P Russo, P Race
(2014), Vol. 28, pp. 43-48, Nursing standard, Oxford, Eng., C1-1
Development of a standardised approach to observing hand hygiene compliance in Australia
K Ryan, P Russo, K Heard, S Havers, K Bellis, M Grayson
(2012), Vol. 17, pp. 115-121, Healthcare infection, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
Good hand hygiene is good medicine
M Grayson, P Russo, K Ryan, K Bellis
(2012), Vol. 13, pp. 28-37, Medicine today, Neutral Bay, N.S.W., C1-1
Outcomes from the first 2 years of the Australian National Hand Hygiene Initiative
M Grayson, P Russo, M Cruickshank, J Bear, C Gee, C Hughes, P Johnson, R McCann, A McMillan, B Mitchell, C Selvey, R Smith, I Wilkinson
(2011), Vol. 195, pp. 615-619, Medical journal of Australia, Sydney, N.S.W., C1-1
R Stuart, C Marshall, M-L McLaws, C Boardman, P Russo, G Harrington, J Ferguson
(2011), Vol. 16, pp. 33-39, Healthcare infection, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
E McBryde, J Brett, P Russo, L Worth, A Bull, M Richards
(2009), Vol. 30, pp. 1045-1049, Infection control and hospital epidemiology, New York, N.Y., C1-1
Using samples to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of a surveillance process
E McBryde, H Kelly, C Marshall, P Russo, D McElwain, A Pettitt
(2008), Vol. 29, pp. 559-563, Infection control and hospital epidemiology, Cambridge, Eng., C1-1
H Kelly, A Bull, P Russo, E McBryde
(2008), Vol. 69, pp. 164-168, Journal of Hospital Infection, London, Eng., C1-1
N Friedman, A Bull, P Russo, L Gurrin, M Richards
(2007), Vol. 28, pp. 55-59, Infection control and hospital epidemiology, Chicago, Illinois, C1-1
N Friedman, P Russo, A Bull, M Richards, H Kelly
(2007), Vol. 28, pp. 812-817, Infection control and hospital epidemiology, Chicago, Illinois, C1-1
N Friedman, A Bull, P Russo, K Leder, C Reid, B Billah, S Marasco, E McBryde, M Richards
(2007), Vol. 28, pp. 1162-1168, Infection control and hospital epidemiology, Chicago, Illinois, C1-1
P Russo, L Gurrin, N Friedman, A Bull, S Marasco, H Kelly, C Boardman, M Richards
(2007), Vol. 28, pp. 1210-1212, Infection control and hospital epidemiology, Chicago, Illinois, C1-1
Implementation of a pilot surveillance program for smaller acute care hospitals
N Bennett, A Bull, D Dunt, D Spelman, P Russo, M Richards
(2007), Vol. 35, pp. 196-199, American journal of infection control, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
Surveillance of hospital-acquired infections in Australia--One Nation, Many States
M Richards, P Russo
(2007), Vol. 65, pp. 174-181, Journal of Hospital Infection, London, Eng., C1-1
P Russo, A Bull, N Bennett, C Boardman, S Burrell, J Motley, K Berry, N Friedman, M Richards
(2006), Vol. 34, pp. 430-436, American journal of infection control, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
N Bennett, A Bull, D Dunt, L Gurrin, M Richards, P Russo, D Spelman
(2006), Vol. 34, pp. 170-175, American journal of infection control, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
P Russo, A Bull, N Bennett, C Boardman, S Burrell, J Motley, N Friedman, M Richards
(2005), Vol. 29, pp. 244-248, Australian and New Zealand journal of public health, Canberra, A.C.T., C1-1
Surgical-site infection rates and risk factor analysis in coronary artery bypass graft surgery
G Harrington, P Russo, D Spelman, S Borrell, K Watson, W Barr, R Martin, D Edmonds, J Cocks, J Greenbough, J Lowe, L Randle, J Castell, E Browne, K Bellis, M Aberline
(2004), Vol. 25, pp. 472-476, Infection control and hospital epidemiology, Cambridge, Eng., C1-1
P Russo, D Spelman
(2002), Vol. 23, pp. 372-376, Infection control and hospital epidemiology, Cambridge, Eng., C1-1
Risk factors for surgical wound infection and bacteraemia following coronary artery bypass surgery
D Spelman, P Russo, G Harrington, B Davis, M Rabinov, J Smith, W Spicer, D Esmore
(2000), Vol. 70, pp. 47-51, ANZ journal of surgery, Carlton, Vic., C1-1
Needleless intravenous systems: a review
P Russo, G Harrington, D Spelman
(1999), Vol. 27, pp. 431-434, AJIC -- American Journal of Infection Control, Philadelphia, Pa., C1-1
Hospital outbreak of Norwalk-like virus
P Russo, D Spelman, G Harrington, A Jenney, I Gunesekere, P Wright, J Doultree, J Marshall
(1997), Vol. 18, pp. 576-579, Infection control & hospital epidemiology, Cambridge, Eng., C1-1
Hospital Outbreak of Norwalk-Like Virus
Philip Russo, Denis Spelman, Glenys Harrington, Adam Jenney, Ishara Gunesekere, Peter Wright, Jennifer Doultree, John Marshall
(1997), Vol. 18, pp. 576-579, Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Other Public Sector Funding
A review of the arrangements for centralised national coordination of Australia's surveillance, analysis and reporting of antimicrobial usage and resistance
Dr Philip Russo, Allen Cheng, Heath Kelly, A/Prof Worth Leon
Department of Health - Commonwealth
- 2017: $40,000
Industry and Other Funding
Establishing the prevalence of healthcare associated infections in Australian hospitals
Dr Philip Russo, Prof Brett Mitchell, Allen Cheng, Dr Andrew Stewardson, Prof Tracey Bucknall
The Rosemary Norman Foundation
- 2020: $30,000
- 2019: $60,000
- 2018: $60,000
- 2017: $30,000
Supervisions
No completed student supervisions to report