ECDC promotes the performance of external quality assessment (EQA) schemes, in which laboratories are sent simulated clinical specimens or bacterial isolates for testing by routine or reference laboratory methods. EQA schemes, or laboratory proficiency testing, provide information about the accuracy of different characterisation and typing methods as well as antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and the sensitivity of the methods in place to detect a certain pathogen or novel resistance patterns.
This document establishes a protocol for the case detection, laboratory diagnosis and environmental testing of Mycobacterium chimaera infections which are potentially associated with heater-cooler units.
To support the annual World Health Organization (WHO) “SAVE LIVES: Clean your Hands” campaign, ECDC is launching two new pages of its directory of online resources on infection prevention and control.