Fionna Cassie travels to post-quake Christchurch and finds there are invaluable infection control lessons to be learnt by those working in aged care following large scale disasters.

Infection control nurse Alison Carter is in a unique and authoritative position to talk about crisis-related infection control in aged care. It was a sad situation she found herself in when she first visited Christchurch's rocked aged care facilities. She said that despite the portaloos at entrances and residents on mattresses, it was the spirit of the staff and residents she took home with her. As an infection control community consultant for laboratory services provider Medlab South for more than 15 years, residential facilities have been one of Carter's major clients. When, 10 days after...