Updates
Currently included on this page are:
UK SMI ID 1: Introduction to the preliminary identification of medically important bacteria and fungi from culture
UK SMI ID 4: Identification of Streptococcus species, Enterococcus species and morphologically similar organisms
UK SMI Q 7: good practice when ordering and undertaking diagnostic tests for infectious disease serology
UK SMI Q 2: quality assurance in the diagnostic infection sciences laboratory
UK SMI V 30: investigation of exposure to rash in pregnancy
UK SMI ID 24: identification of Salmonella species
UK SMI 12: identification of Haemophilus species and the HACEK group of organisms
UK SMI S 7: gastroenteritis
Infectious Diseases staged recovery plan
UK SMI V 27: Hepatitis A virus acute infection Serology (Re-issued)
UK SMI V 26: Epstein-Barr Virus Serology (Re-issued)
SMI V 8: vertical and perinatal transmission of hepatitis C
Rapid Tests for Group A Streptococcal infections in people with a sore throat
UK SMI V 53: screening and monitoring for hepatitis E infection
UK SMI Quarterly Report October 2018
Update to MDR-TB Service
Hepatitis C - whole genome sequencing (WGS) now available
HEE Report Launch - Tackling antimicrobial resistance: the role of formative assessments
BIA CSC Position Statement on the determination of Consultant Competence
SaBTO Microbiological Safety Guidelines
Immediate ART for treatment of HIV-1 in adults and adolescent
Virtual Doctors
UK SMI ID 1: Introduction to the preliminary identification of medically important bacteria and fungi from culture
This document is now available to view - click to access
Posted 27/09/2021
UK SMI ID 4: Identification of Streptococcus species, Enterococcus species and morphologically similar organisms
This document is now available to view - click to access
Posted 27/09/2021
UK SMI Q 7: good practice when ordering and undertaking diagnostic tests for infectious disease serology
This document is now available to view - click to access
Posted 20/09/2021
UK SMI Q 2: quality assurance in the diagnostic infection sciences laboratory
This document is now available to view - click to access
Posted 16/08/2021
UK SMI V 30: investigation of exposure to rash in pregnancy
This document is now available to view - click to access
Posted 22/03/2021
UK SMI ID 24: identification of Salmonella species
This document is now available to view - click to access
Posted 22/03/2021
UK SMI 12: identification of Haemophilus species and the HACEK group of organisms
This document is now available to view - click to access
UK SMI S 7: gastroenteritis
This document is now available to view - click to access
Posted 28/10/2020
Infectious Diseases staged recovery plan
This document is now available to view - click to access
Posted 28/07/2020
UK SMI V 27: Hepatitis A virus acute infection Serology (Re-issued)
This document is now available to view - click to access
Posted 31/01/2019
UK SMI V 26: Epstein-Barr Virus Serology (Re-issued)
This document is now available to view - click to access
Posted 31/01/2019
SMI V 8: vertical and perinatal transmission of hepatitis C
This document is now available to view - click to access
Posted 14/01/2019
Rapid Tests for Group A Streptococcal infections in people with a sore throat
We would like to inform you that the final scope and final assessment protocol for the assessment of Rapid Tests for Group A Streptococcal infections in people with a sore throat have been published on our website.
Please follow this link to the topic webpage: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-dg10025
Documents are accessible via the 'project documents' tab.
Please note, this is just for information and no comments are required at this point.
Posted 12/12/18
UK SMI V 53: screening and monitoring for hepatitis E infection
This document is now available to view - click to access
Posted 19/11/18
UK SMI Quarterly Report (Autumn Update) October 2018
This document is now available to view - click to access
Posted 08/11/18
Update to MDR-TB Service
The MDR-TB Clinical Advice Service is a resource for clinicians treating patients who have MDR-TB. Data collected through the MDR-TB Clinical Advice Service is used to provide robust clinical advice on a case by case basis.
BTS has redeveloped and improved its MDR-TB Clinical Advice Service, by which advice and support is given to clinicians who encounter MDR-TB and wish to receive advice about treatment. Support from PHE and NHS England is gratefully acknowledged.
The new UK-wide online service is now available. If you are a clinician and would like to make use of this service for expert advice from a multi-disciplinary panel of formally appointed expert Clinical Service Advisers, please register using the link below:
Click here to access the new MDR-TB Clinical Advice Service website
Posted 27/09/18
Hepatitis C - whole genome sequencing (WGS) now available
Scientists at Public Health England (PHE) have developed the first ever clinically validated whole genome sequencing test for hepatitis C virus (HCV) as part of a global effort to eliminate HCV by 2025. The assay looks at both viral genotype and drug resistance in one test. The new combined test took over 5 years to develop and will halve the current turnaround time for samples sent to PHE for resistance testing from 20 to 10 days. This enables those clinicians who use PHE Cloindale's HCV service to provide patients with quicker access to curative treatment plans. PHE hopes that as the first WGS test for viruses this will serve as a model for other viruses such as HIV. You can find out more about requesting a test here: http://www.gov.uk/guidance/antiviral-unit-avu-reference-services
HEE Report Launch - Tackling antimicrobial resistance: the role of formative assessments
Health Education England has surveyed the inclusion of competencies developed by the Government’s expert advisory committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection (ARHAI) and Public Health England (PHE) into health professional curricula and the education approaches for the responsible prescribing of antimicrobials.
Within both these reports we made a recommendation that HEE will explore the feasibility of an individualised online formative assessment tool for health students and health professionals to support learning on infection prevention and control (IPC) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and stewardship (AMS).
Our report outlines the methodology in consulting stakeholders on this feasibility and the conclusions made in considering a system wide formative assessment. A number of learning resources are already available for different professional groups around antimicrobial resistance and stewardship and infection prevention and control.
Most professional groups do not have formal assessment processes to support learning on AMR/IPC/AMS. The term ‘individualised’ needs defining with a clear scope on whether individuals or professional groups will be targeted in different working environments and stages in their career
HEE will consider outcomes from this work, that will inform the future direction of our antimicrobial resistance and sepsis programme.
Click for pdf version of report
Posted 30/08/18
BIA CSC Position Statement on the determination of Consultant Competence
We note that RCPath have also produced a position statement which was published on 10/07/2017. Both documents are entirely congruent.
This document was updated in January 2018; the updated version is available below.
Click for Consultant Competence document
SaBTO Microbiological Safety Guidelines
A new revision of the guide to the microbiological safety of human organs, tissues and cells used in transplantation, now renamed as the SaBTO microbiological safety guidelines, has been published. The new guidelines are available on the SaBTO website.
Click to view SaBTO guidelines
Click for letter from Chair of the Advisory Group for the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs
CCP: Immediate ART for treatment of HIV-1 in adults and adolescents
Virtual Doctors
Virtual Doctors is a small charity which provides email advice to rural health workers in Africa and is currently looking to recruit more volunteer doctors (especially infectious diseases) based in the UK. Anyone interested in helping - particularly trainees, as this may be a good learning opportunity - should refer to the Virtual Doctors website for more information.
Posted 23/06/16