Achievements in Clinical Bacteriology – 2016

Posted on January 11, 2017January 11, 2017 by Roshan ( Web Admin )

By

Dr. Lilani Karunanayake, Consultant Clinical Microbiologist,
Medical Research Institute

The Department of Bacteriology at the Medical Research Institute (MRI) has expanded with the introduction of revolutionary facilities and techniques in clinical microbiology.

2016 is a landmark year, with the commencement of automated bacterial identification with antibiotic susceptibility and serology testing, and the establishment of a molecular biology unit for the diagnosis of infectious bacterial diseases in Sri Lanka.

Opening of the newly established molecular biology unit at the Department of Bacteriology by Dr. Sunil De Alwis, Deputy Director-General (Education, Training and Research), Ministry of Health

The BD Phoenix, an automated Bacterial Identification and Antibiotic Susceptibility system, is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka and was installed in the Department of Bacteriology, Medical Research Institute

Inspection of the automated serological analyzer by the Deputy Director-General (Education Training & Research) at MRI

National External Quality Assessment Scheme in Bacteriology (NEQAS)

We are the sole organizer of the National External Quality Assessment Scheme in Bacteriology (NEQAS) in Sri Lanka. The program was enhanced by introducing lyophilized bacterial cultures and gram stain slides in the examination panel and by making laboratory visits to the participant laboratories for the monitoring of Internal Quality Control (IQC) on site. We visited 5 hospitals in the Uva Province this year.

Laboratory visit to District General Hospital, Nuwaraeliya - with Dr. M. Abeywardene, Consultant Clinical Microbiologist and her team

In November 2016, we held a one-day program on Quality Assurance in Bacteriology for Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLT) of microbiology laboratories in both state- and private- sector institutions participating in NEQAS, MRI.

Some of the participants in the one-day workshop at the auditorium, MRI

Achievements in Research

We have had 3 research publications and 7 presentations in several academic sessions. We won 3 research awards and completed 4 research projects in 2016.

Contact Details

Dr Danister de Silva Mawatha • Colombo 8 • Sri Lanka