Backup support from the independent laboratory to the hospital for infection control of antimicrobial agent-resistant bacteria].

Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Care, Tenri Health Care University, Tenri 632-0018, Japan. komatsu@tenriyorozu-u.ac.jp

Rinsho byori. The Japanese journal of clinical pathology 2012 Oct

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Because commercial laboratories have far less opportunity for direct communication with clinicians in comparison with hospitals, they need to maintain closer contact regarding the evaluation of prophlogistic bacterial isolates through such communication tools as the telephone, and need to include more comments in reports to avoid misunderstandings by clinicians. Commercial laboratories handle enormous numbers of strains of microorganisms that have been isolated from various regions and, therefore, they have a great deal of information important for public health that relates to pathogens causing community-acquired and healthcare associated infection. Returning such information to society provides useful data for selecting antibacterial agents and taking measures against healthcare-associated infection. Many medical facilities that outsource microorganism tests to commercial laboratories do not have a resident specialist in clinical microbiology, and it is difficult for such facilities to centrally manage test data within the facility, possibly causing increased incidents of delay in the early detection of a mass outbreak of healthcare-associated infection; therefore, commercial laboratories should immediately develop a resource of experts in their organization. Although there are professional certification systems in Japan such as the Infection Control Microbiological Technologist (ICMT) and over 500 technicians are certified, the majority of these technicians belong to hospitals. In the future, support of the clinical education of technicians working in laboratories should be considered at the society level.

Citation

Masaru Komatsu. Backup support from the independent laboratory to the hospital for infection control of antimicrobial agent-resistant bacteria]. Rinsho byori. The Japanese journal of clinical pathology. 2012 Oct;60(10):960-5