BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk// X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Advances\, challenges\, and new initiatives in veterinary clinical microbiology - Dorina Timofte\, University of Liverpool DTSTART:20240605T120000Z DTEND:20240605T130000Z UID:TALK213589@talks.cam.ac.uk CONTACT:Fiona Roby DESCRIPTION:The development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of th e most important public health challenges and has highlighted the critical role that clinical microbiology laboratories play in driving antimicrobia l stewardship. Despite the recognition of its importance\, there are sever al areas of improvement which need to be addressed in this field\, startin g with the need for standardized training of clinical microbiologists and harmonization of diagnostic procedures across veterinary microbiology diag nostic laboratories. Bacterial culture\, identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (C&ID and AST) are key tools for antimicrobial ther apy guidance and the lack of specific guidelines for processing companion animal clinical specimens for microbiology testing is a serious challenge to the veterinary profession. Similarly\, the lack of guidelines or progra mmes for AMR surveillance in companion animals and the use of multiple sta ndards is a major limitation when comparing susceptibility data between la boratories or countries. Both aspects have multiple implications for the d iagnosis and management of infections\, and impact overall on antimicrobia l stewardship. \nFurthermore\, surveillance in veterinary hospitals of hea lthcare associated infections (HCAIs) associated with multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria is less well-established than in human hospitals and needs further development. Our infection control studies at the University of Li verpool should generate sufficient veterinary-specific data to enable the development of evidence-based infection control policies to help prevent v eterinary HCAIs. In addition\, teaching veterinary students about infectio n control and how to interpret microbiology results\, are key steps toward s safeguarding antibiotics for the future.\nIn this talk\, I will cover th e developments which we implemented at Liverpool to address these challeng es. In addition\, I will include findings from two European-wide projects addressing these issues and how we now plan to take real steps towards dev eloping a united approach in supporting both diagnosticians and clinicians .\n\nDorina is Professor of Veterinary Clinical Microbiology at the Univer sity of Liverpool and has a long-standing career in this field. Originally from Romania\, where she took her DVM and PhD at Iasi Veterinary School\, Dorina moved to the UK in 2004 and since 2009\, has been leading the Vete rinary Microbiology Diagnostic Laboratory at Liverpool School of Veterinar y Science and chair of the Biosecurity and Infection Control Committee at the Liverpool School of Veterinary Science. Dorina is RCVS Specialist in V eterinary Microbiology and Diplomat of the European College of Veterinary Microbiology (ECVM)\; she established the first ECVM Residency training pr ogramme at Liverpool and is currently the ECVM vice-president.\nDorina is involved in several initiatives focusing on the development of veterinary clinical microbiology and raising the profile of the diagnostic laboratory role in antimicrobial stewardship. She participates in various clinical m icrobiology training events and is developing harmonised laboratory method ologies for surveillance of AMR in companion animals. \nDorina`s research focuses on characterisation of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms in com panion and farm animals\, as well as the genomic epidemiology of interspec ies transmission of multidrug resistant bacteria between humans\, animals and the environment. She also has a particular research interest in the ep idemiology of healthcare associated infections in human and veterinary hos pitals.\n\n\n\nChaired by Cassia Hare LOCATION:LT2 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR