MICROBIAL TECHNOLOGY
Fig 4. Identifying MRSA.
Fig 5. MRSA growing on BHI media, and AST using the MASTRING.
and discharged three weeks later to be followed up as an outpatient. Within a few weeks, the patient was re-admitted with new pustular lesions over pre- existing ulcers and other areas of the body. Owing to the presence of the newly established microbiology unit, a decision was made to take a culture swab from the wound, and the donations of vital diagnostic supplies led to the laboratory identifying a case of methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Appropriate antibiotic treatment was recommended and the patient made a full recovery (Fig 5). This was the first known case of MRSA and helped nursing staff to take adequate measures to prevent cross-infection. Ivor’s remarkable efforts have helped to support the KSN medical team, and significant progress has meant that the laboratory is able to prepare its own culture media, discard waste safely and provide culture and sensitivity testing for urine, blood cultures, wounds and other swabs with remote interpretation of plates and slides.
Fig 6. A team-building exercise! 26
If Ivor could give advice to anyone thinking of developing a microbiology service in a rural setting it would be to “share expectations and build relationships with local staff. Go with others who can help but take your own resources. Prepare for problems and choose your battles!” His talk provided a sober reminder that for all the talk of national action plans to reduce AMR and innovative PCR solutions for the detection of multiple pathogens, for most of the world, access to the most basic diagnostic microbiology facilities is limited or non- existent.
References 1 Charani E, Mendelson M, Pallett SJC et al.
An analysis of existing national action plans for antimicrobial resistance-gaps and opportunities in strategies optimising antibiotic use in human populations. Lancet Glob Health. 2023 Mar; 11(3): e466–e474. doi: 10.1016/S2214- 109X(23)00019-0.
2 Moore LSP, Villegas MV, Wenzler E et al. Rapid Diagnostic Test Value and Implementation in Antimicrobial Stewardship Across Low-to-Middle and High-Income Countries: A Mixed-Methods Review. Infect Dis Ther. 2023 Jun; 12(6): 14451463. doi: 10.1007/s40121-023- 00815-z.
3 Fleming KA, Horton S, Wilson ML et al. The Lancet Commission on diagnostics: transforming access to diagnostics. Lancet. 2021 Nov 27; 398(10315): 1997–2050. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00673-5.
This first of two reports from the 2024 BSMT Microbiology Conference was written for the BSMT by Carolyne Horner, Carmel Aldridge, David Westrip and Mark Wilks. The second report covering the afternoon session will appear in the August issue of Pathology in Practice.
JUNE 2024
WWW.PATHOLOGYINPRACTICE.COM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
