Abstract

With infection once again a high priority for the UK National Health Service (NHS), the medical microbiology and infection-control services require increased technology resources and more multidisciplinary staff. Clinical care and health protection need a coordinated network of microbiology services working to consistent standards, provided locally by NHS Trusts and supported by the regional expertise and national reference laboratories of the new Health Protection Agency. Here, I outline my thoughts on the need for these new resources and the ways in which clinical microbiology services in the UK can best meet the demands of the twenty-first century.

Author affiliations

1. Brian Duerden is Inspector of Microbiology and Infection Control at the Department of Health, 644B Skipton House, London SE1 6LH, UK.

Correspondence to: Brian Duerden¹ Email: brian.duerden@dh.gsi.gov.uk

Published online 24 October 2005

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