ACTIVITIES
The National Quality Assurance Programme (NQAP)
The Bacteriology Unit, IMR actively coordinates the National Quality Assurance Programme (NQAP) for the bacteriology module. The participants comprise of microbiology laboratories from government and private hospitals. At the moment, there are 65 government hospitals and 2 private hospitals involved in this programme. The main objective of this programme is to assess the creditability of methods used by laboratories and promote high standard of laboratory practice in Malaysia.
Currently, we conduct the NQAP twice a year and provide four samples in each batch. Participating laboratories are required to identify the organism and perform antibiotic susceptibility tests on the identified organism.
DIAGNOSTICS
List of Tests Carried Out at Bacteriology Unit
TRAINING
1. National Mycology Seminar
The National Mycology Seminar was held on the 16th June 2009 till . It was organized by the Institute for Medical Research (Bacteriology Unit) in collaboration with the Malaysian Society of Infectious Diseases and Chemotherapy (MSIDC). The lunch symposium was sponsored by Pfizer Malaysia Sdn Bhd. During this seminar, the topics that were discussed included distribution of diseases, diagnostic approaches and managements of invasive mycoses. The main objective was to update knowledge and provide guidance in addressing this emerging problem. The invited speakers included 2 foreign speakers (Dr David Ellis, Dr Deborah Marriot from Australia) and four local speakers (Dr Hishamshah, Dr Arni, Dr Chow, and Dr Zaleha).
Presentation by Dr. David Ellis
Presentation by Dr. Hishamshah
2. National Mycology Workshop
On the 17th till 19th June 2009, The National Mycology Workshop was held in the IMR. The workshop consisted of several lectures and hands on practical sessions. The major topics covered were methods for identification of pathogenic fungi and issues related to antifungal susceptibility testing. The speakers and facilitators included Dr David Ellis (Australia), Dr. Mohd Fuat (Bacteriology Unit, IMR) and several officers and technicians from Bacteriology Unit IMR. Forty participants attended the workshop.
Dr. David Ellis giving his lecture to the workshop participants
Dr. David Ellis showing how to do slide culture
Workshop participants with lecturers, fascilitators and organizing committees
EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE / COMPETENCY PROGRAM
The Unit participated actively in the External Quality Assurance Programs organized by the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) with the main aim was to test for competency of the laboratory staff and the standard operating procedure and to provide the avenue for the staff to update their knowledge in microbiology.
In the year 2009, eight despatches were received by the staff of the unit for the following modules:
- Urine
- Skin
- Throat
- Faeces
- Respiratory
- Genital
- Wound/pus (aerobic)
- Wound/pus (anaerobic)
- Mycobacteriology (stain)
- Difficult bacteria/blood
- Susceptibility testing for bacteria
- Mycology
All test results were submitted to RCPA by online form before the cutoff date. Confirmatory test results were posted by RCPA several weeks after the cutoff date and these were then presented to the staff for discussions.
Laboratory staffs discussing RCPA quality assurance tests results
IMR Culture Collection (IMRCC)
The Institute for Medical Research Culture Collection (IMRCC), was established in the early 1970’s. The main objective of this unit was for the collection, maintenance and management of the reference microbial (bacterial and fungal) strains used in diagnostics and research. Ever since then, the IMRCC has been equipped and facilitated in order to function as a pioneer in culture collection and preservation centre in Malaysia. We have been doing lyophilisation (freeze drying process) for the preservation of bacterial and fungal strains since 1970’s and have a vast collections of about 3500 different bacterial isolates in our keeping. Our earliest collection is dated as early as 1969. Each of our collections, have their own record of origin, and phenotypic and other relevant information adjunct with new molecular technology. The inventory and deposited cultures are maintained by experienced staff .Viability testing is carried out at one month, one year and every five years to confirm the bioavailability of lyophilised cultures. The IMRCC also functions to provide cultures to private/semi government and university laboratories. All transfer of culture has to be authorized by a customer agreement and material transfer agreement form.
LIST OF PUBLICATIONS
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