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Where are they now… Daniela Karanfilovska

28 August 2025 / Alfred Health/ Awards

Nursing research continues to drive advancements in patient care, shaping the future of healthcare through innovation and evidence-based practice.

Each year, we award two prestigious nursing prizes to researchers on the precinct who have had their work recognised and published in medical and/or scientific journals. The prizes were established to recognise high-impact and original research that is conducted on this campus.

Meet Daniela Karanfilovska, winner of the 2022 Kathleen AB Smith Memorial Award for Best Early Career Researcher Publication (Nursing) award.

Daniela is a Senior Infection Prevention Clinical Nurse Consultant, Alfred Health and is also a Project Officer and Nurse Educator for the Healthcare-associated Infection Prevalence in the Philippines Study (HIPPS)

Here, she explains the research that was published and how it’s led to infection improvement at Alfred Health.

Can you tell us what your research was that you won the award for?

Hospitals routinely undertake surveillance for Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection (SAB), a common and serious healthcare-associated infection (HAI). We developed a tool which defines modifiable risk factors and incorporates these into classifications of ‘preventability’ that can be applied to each SAB, with detailed response actions at the hospital level aimed at preventing new SABs occurring in the future. The tool was developed with Australian experts in HAI surveillance by Delphi consensus.

What did you then go on to achieve with this research?

At Alfred Health, this work led to changes in how we investigate and report SAB infections, ensuring there are comprehensive, targeted actions in response to highly preventable SABs. This research was presented at our national conference (ACIPC), published in a peer-reviewed international journal, and is currently being considered for incorporation into Victorian SAB surveillance.

What did it mean to you to win this award & to be recognised?

It was humbling and rewarding, as we had started the project just prior to COVID-19. Then, the onset of the pandemic led to a lot of delays in getting the research completed and implemented.

What do you aspire to achieve career-wise?

I'm committed to ongoing quality improvement in reducing healthcare-associated infections.

What is something you’d like to share about the role/importance nurses play in research for anyone who does not know?

We offer an important and unique perspective to improve patient care and develop the nursing profession through research.

Do you think this is a great place to establish a long career in research?

Absolutely! We are all surrounded by colleagues who have research experience or who are passionate about quality improvement. I've always felt supported and encouraged to pursue research in my nursing roles at Alfred Health.