This page was last updated: January 14th, 2022
*The Saturday/Sunday/Bank Holiday service offered by all departments is intended for essential work.
Urgent work will be processed at any time. There are provisions for Consultant cover out of hours within CMB. Advice from a consultant Microbiologist is available via switchboard. Process of urgent samples can be arranged by contacting the on-call biomedical scientist via switchboard (01872 250000).
This service performs a wide range of testing for infectious diseases, including:
This section provides specialist testing in the following areas:
Dr Andree Evans
01872 254900
andree.evans2@nhs.net
Richard Tandy
01872 254900
richardtandy@nhs.net
Herty Narcho
01872 254900
h.narcho@nhs.net
Kathy Pollard
01872 254974
kathypollard@nhs.net
Bleep 3934 or via the Royal Cornwall Hospital Switchboard on 01872 250000
Alerts for previous resistant organisms (such as ESBL/MRSA) should be checked on MAXIMS and empirical antibiotics modified accordingly to cover them until culture results become available. Antimicrobial treatment must be reviewed with positive cultures wherever applicable and must comply with the Trust Antimicrobial Guideline.
Definitions of susceptibility testing categories S, I and R have recently been changed by EUCAST (European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing) as shown below.
S | Susceptible, standard dosing regimen: A microorganism is categorised as “Susceptible, standard dosing regimen”, when there is a high likelihood of therapeutic success using a standard dosing regimen of the agent. |
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I | Susceptible, increased exposure*: A microorganism is categorised as “Susceptible, Increased exposure*” when there is a high likelihood of therapeutic success because exposure to the agent is increased by adjusting the dosing regimen or by its concentration at the site of infection. |
R | Resistant: A microorganism is categorised as “Resistant” when there is a high likelihood of therapeutic failure even when there is increased exposure. |
*Exposure is a function of how the mode of administration, dose, dosing interval, infusion time, as well as distribution and excretion of the antimicrobial agent will influence the infecting organism at the site of infection.