The importance of microbiology reference laboratories and adequate funding for infectious disease surveillance

David Shaw ¹, Raquel Abad Torreblanca ², Zahin Amin-Chowdhury ³

¹Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
²National Reference Laboratory for Meningococci, National Centre of Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
³Immunisation and Countermeasures Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK.
⁴Grupo de Microbiologia-Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá, Colombia.
⁵Irish Meningitis and Sepsis Reference Laboratory, Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street, Dublin, Ireland.
⁶Staphylococcus and Streptococcus Reference Section, AMRHAI, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK.
⁷Swiss National Reference Centre for Invasive Pneumococci, Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
⁸Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
⁹German National Reference Center for Meningococci and Haemophilus influenzae, Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
¹⁰Department of Clinical Microbiology, The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland; Irish Meningitis and Sepsis Reference Laboratory, Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street, Dublin, Ireland.
¹¹Public Health Wales, Cardiff, UK.
¹²Department of Clinical Microbiology, The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Microbiology, Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street, Dublin, Ireland; Irish Meningitis and Sepsis Reference Laboratory, Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street, Dublin, Ireland.
¹³Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; National Reference Centre for Invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
¹⁴Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
¹⁵Meningococcal Reference Laboratory, Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited, Porirua, New Zealand.
¹⁶Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, a Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa.
¹⁷Invasive Bacterial Infections Unit and National Reference Centre for Meningococci and Haemophilus influenzae, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
¹⁸CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Spanish Pneumococcal Reference Laboratory, National Centre of Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
¹⁹Clinical Innovation Unit, Rotunda, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Clinical Microbiology, The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland; Irish Meningitis and Sepsis Reference Laboratory, Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street, Dublin, Ireland.
²⁰Department of Bacteria, Parasites & Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
²¹National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada.
²²National Laboratory for Meningitis and Pneumococcal Infections, Center of Bacteriology, Institute Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, Brazil.
²³CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Públic, CIBERESP, Barcelona, Spain; Instituto de Recerca Pediatrica, Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain.
²⁴Department of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
²⁵Department of Clinical Microbiology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland.
²⁶National Reference Laboratory for Neisseria meningitidis, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
²⁷Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
²⁸Department of Bacteriology and Mycology, Respiratory and Meningeal Diseases Section, Laboratorio Central de Salud Pública, Asunción, Paraguay.
²⁹NRL for Streptococcal Infections, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Air-Borne Bacterial Infections, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic; Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic.
³⁰Department of Clinical Microbiology, Landspitali-The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
³¹NRL for Meningococcal Infections, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic.
³²National Reference Centre for Bacterial Meningitis, National Medicines Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
³³Department of Public Health, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
³⁴Respiratory and Vaccine Preventable Bacteria Reference Unit, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK.
³⁵Faculté de Médecine et Pharmacie Université de Mons (UMONS), Mons, Belgium; National Reference Centre for Haemophilus influenzae, Laboratoires des Hôpitaux Universitaires de Bruxelles-Universitaire Laboratorium Brussel, LHUB-ULB, Brussels, Belgium.
³⁶National Reference Centre for Neisseria meningitidis, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium.
³⁷Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
³⁸Division of Public Health Surveillance and Response, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, a Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa.
³⁹Public Health Agency of Sweden, Solna, Sweden.
⁴⁰Streptococcal Reference Laboratory, Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited, Porirua, New Zealand.
⁴¹CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Públic, CIBERESP, Barcelona, Spain; Instituto de Recerca Pediatrica, Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain; Medicine Department, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
⁴²University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
⁴³NRL for Haemophilus Infections, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic.
⁴⁴Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, NSW Health Pathology, NSW, Sydney, Australia.
⁴⁵Instituto de Recerca Pediatrica, Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain.
⁴⁶National Centre of Microbiology and CIBER de enfermedades infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
⁴⁷Laboratoire National de Sante, Dudelange, Luxembourg.
⁴⁸Government Central Laboratories, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel.
⁴⁹Bacterial Respiratory Infection Service, Scottish Microbiology Reference Laboratory, Glasgow, UK.
⁵⁰Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, NSW Health Pathology, NSW, Sydney, Australia; Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁵¹Bacterial Respiratory Infection Service, Scottish Microbiology Reference Laboratory, Glasgow, UK; College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
⁵²National Meningitis Reference Laboratory, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece.
⁵³Reference Laboratory for Streptococci, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
⁵⁴Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention and Netherlands Reference Laboratory for Bacterial Meningitis, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
⁵⁵Laboratory of Medical Biology and National Reference Centre for Pneumococci, Intercommunal Hospital of Créteil, Créteil, France.
⁵⁶NRL for Streptococcal Infections, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic.

⁰Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

The Lancet. Digital Health +

|

December 21, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Microbiology reference laboratories are vital for public health, providing essential data and expertise. Sustained support ensures their crucial role in national and international health security, especially during pandemics.

Area Of Science

Public Health
Microbiology
Epidemiology

Background

Microbiology reference laboratories are integral components of public health infrastructure.
Their significance was amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic.
These labs provide critical data and specialized expertise.

Purpose Of The Study

To emphasize the importance of microbiology reference laboratories.
To highlight the digital data and expertise provided by these labs.
To underscore the value of international collaboration in public health surveillance.

Main Methods

This viewpoint emphasizes the role and contributions of microbiology reference laboratories.
It highlights the importance of data sharing and collaborative analysis among international partners.
The authors discuss the impact of these laboratories on public health.

Main Results

Microbiology reference laboratories generate and provide valuable digital data and expertise.
Collaborative international surveillance initiatives facilitate timely data analysis and dissemination.
These laboratories have a significant impact at regional, national, and international levels.

Conclusions

Sustained support for microbiology reference laboratories is essential for robust public health systems.
These laboratories play a key role in both pandemic preparedness and ongoing health security.
International collaboration enhances the effectiveness of public health surveillance and response.

Related Concept Videos

Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics

Microorganisms play a fundamental role in vaccine development, gene therapy, and therapeutic production. Their biological properties are harnessed to advance medicine and public health. Beyond immunization, microorganisms contribute to gut health, antibiotic synthesis, and genetic disease treatment.Live Attenuated and Inactivated VaccinesLive attenuated vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, utilize weakened forms of pathogens to closely resemble natural infections.

History of Microbiology

Microbiology, a scientific field dedicated to the study of microorganisms, has undergone profound development since its inception in the 17th century. Its history is marked by key discoveries and technological advancements that have shaped our understanding of life at the microscopic level and transformed medicine, agriculture, and industry.Early Foundations of MicrobiologyThe early foundations of microbiology were built on groundbreaking observations and the development of pioneering...

Microbial Classification System

Classification is the process of organizing organisms into hierarchically inclusive groups based on their phenotypic similarities or evolutionary relationships. A species comprises one or more strains, and closely related species are grouped into genera. Genera are further classified into families, families into orders, orders into classes, and so forth, up to the domain level, which is the broadest taxonomic rank derived from a combination of phenotypic and genotypic data.The nomenclature of...

Key Techniques in Microbiology

Aseptic techniques prevent contamination, ensure experimental accuracy, and protect researchers and microbial cultures. These techniques are essential in clinical, industrial, and research settings where sterility is required.Maintaining Sterility in Laboratory PracticesScientists maintain sterility by sterilizing tools with heat or chemicals, disinfecting work surfaces, and handling cultures in controlled environments. Working near an open flame or within a laminar flow hood reduces the risk...

Infection

When a pathogen enters the body and reproduces, it can cause an infection, damage body cells, and cause illness symptoms that eventually lead to disease. Therefore, its prevention requires breaking the chain of infection.
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...