MICROBIOLOGY CONFERENCE
Microbial Technology in Practice: the Good, the Bad and the Bugly
In May, the British Society for Microbial Technology Annual Microbiology Conference returned to the RAF Museum in Hendon, North London. This 41st iteration since the BSMT was launched in 1985 offered delegates an eclectic scientific programme together with access to many of the leading microbiology companies. Here, members of the committee report.
This year’s British Society for Microbial Technology (BSMT) conference, dedicated to the memory of Jim Lindsay, a founder member of the BSMT who died in June last year, featured a range of expert speakers from different fields of microbiology, as the following report illustrates. In addition to the scientific programme,
the event also included a trade exhibition supported by 21 leading microbiology companies, without whose support conferences such as this would be impossible to stage.
Current state and the potential future for diagnostic microbiology Dr Sarah Pit, Principal Lecturer at the University of Brighton and President of the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS), delivered a thought-provoking opening presentation, exploring how diagnostic microbiology is evolving to meet the changing demands of modern healthcare. Dr Pit highlighted the significant
IBMS President Dr Sarah Pit delivered a thought- provoking keynote presentation, exploring how diagnostic microbiology is evolving to meet the changing demands of modern healthcare.
transformation of diagnostic microbiology during the 21st century, with laboratories now providing an expanding range of tests, faster turnaround times, and increasingly sophisticated antimicrobial susceptibility monitoring. Beyond processing samples and identifying pathogens, today’s microbiology services play a vital role in quality management, staff training, accreditation and supporting infection prevention and control. Looking ahead, she emphasised that
diagnostic microbiology must align with the NHS 10 Year Plan, including the
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shift from hospital to community care, greater use of digital technologies, and a stronger focus on prevention rather than treatment. She identified opportunities for artificial intelligence (AI), improved laboratory connectivity and expanded screening programmes, while stressing that these innovations must be supported by investment in workforce development, education and career progression for biomedical scientists. Dr Pit also reflected on the lessons of
the COVID-19 pandemic and the findings of Exercise Pegasus, the UK’s pandemic preparedness strategy. She underlined the importance of recognising that every pandemic presents unique challenges and called for closer collaboration between diagnostic laboratories and public health agencies, alongside a One Health approach that considers human, animal and environmental health. Point-of-care testing was highlighted as another area of growing importance. While these technologies have enormous potential to improve access to rapid diagnostics in primary care and outbreak management, Dr Pit stressed that microbiologists must remain closely involved in their evaluation, implementation and quality assurance. Concluding her lecture, Dr Pit
reinforced that the future of diagnostic microbiology will depend on balancing innovation with financial realities while maintaining antimicrobial stewardship, investing in the workforce and strengthening international collaboration to tackle emerging infectious diseases.
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