What are the ECDC training activities in the field of public health microbiology?

Public health microbiology is a cross-cutting area that spans the fields of human, animal, food, water, and environmental microbiology, with a focus on human health and disease.  It requires laboratory scientists that are able to work effectively across disciplines, particularly with epidemiologists and clinicians. Public health microbiology laboratories play a central role in detection, monitoring, outbreak response and providing scientific evidence to prevent and control infectious diseases [1].

Training in public health microbiology aims to provide and expand knowledge and expertise in:

• disease mechanisms, with an emphasis on microbial pathogens
• use and application of modern biotechnology
• epidemiologic skills relevant to the prevention and control of infectious diseases threats to public health

ECDC has a dedicated Training section that works closely with the focal points in training and in microbiology appointed by the Member States to  map training needs, develop training schemes and coordinate personnel exchange programmes and networking of training institutions.  

In collaboration with the European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology training (EPIET), ECDC is coordinating a European Public Health Microbiology Training Programme, called EUPHEM.  The EUPHEM programme aims to develop a European network of public health microbiologists to strengthen communicable disease surveillance and control.  Together with EPIET, it will build integrated laboratory-field epidemiology network for outbreak detection, investigation and response. 

References:
1. This definition was developed by ECDC together with the National Microbiology Focal Points through a consensus process during our bi-annual meetings 2007-2009