Challenges in Clinical Microbiology Testing

  • Defining curricula for harmonized European specialties CM and ID
  • Achieving acceptance for CM and ID in all countries
  • Staffing – we need new skills (molecular microbiology, pharmacology, epidemiology, bioinformatics, computer science, statistics, and infection control) and acceptance for these and to strengthen the need for “old skills” – the “medical microbiologist”.
  • Retaining identity when amalgamated with other specialties (CM with “bio pathology” and ID with Internal Medicine
  • Old diseases with new faces – tuberculosis, influenza, C.difficile, poliomyelitis,
  • Antimicrobial resistance (bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, parasites.) obviating successful treatment