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About microbiology and infection control

Microbiology is the branch of biology that studies micro-organisms (bacteria and viruses) and their effects on humans. In England, the identification of human diseases caused by micro-organisms is mostly undertaken in hospital laboratories.

The Chief Medical Officer published Getting Ahead of the Curve: a strategy for infectious diseases in January 2002. This document set out an infectious diseases strategy for England. It aimed to describe the scope of the threat posed by infectious diseases, as well as establishing the priorities for action to combat the threat.

The document detailed the role of the Inspector of Microbiology. One of the Inspector’s main responsibilities is to champion high quality diagnostic microbiology services in the NHS and promote public health microbiology. The Inspector of Microbiology also promotes standards within microbiology and ensures quality in the operation of related services.

Use of standard testing methods in hospital laboratories is one way of achieving this, and will ensure more accurate diagnosis of infection in a uniform approach across England. Identification of any significant gaps in the operation of microbiology services is also important.

The Inspector is tasked to ensure that all microbiology laboratories providing services to the NHS meet their responsibility for public health surveillance. It is important to ensure rules are in place to reduce the risk of loss or misuse of microbiological agents and to support other bodies with regard to all projects involving particularly hazardous micro-organisms. The Inspector will also make certain that microbiology laboratories comply with security procedures.

Infection control requires the prevention of the spread of micro-organisms between patients, from healthcare workers to patients, and from patients to healthcare workers.

With the launch of the Department of Health’s programme to reduce healthcare associated infections in 2004, the Inspector was given the added responsibility of clinical director for the programme. His title was extended to become Inspector of Microbiology and Infection Control.

All enquiries should be directed to Barbara Carthew in the first instance.

• email: Barbara Carthew (opens new window)