Advanced Microbiology Training Program

The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) in collaboration with FHI 360 is organizing a training course on advanced techniques in antibiotic resistance testing to enhance the capacity of clinical microbiology staff.

This training course took place from May 22nd to May 26th, 2023, at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology. It was attended by 20 microbiology department/officers from leading central hospitals in the North, Central, and South regions, as well as bacterial antibiotic resistance testing laboratories in Vietnam, such as the Central Tropical Hospital, Bach Mai Hospital, Cho Ray Hospital, Viet Duc Hospital, Hue Central Hospital, Pediatric Hospital 1, Central Children’s Hospital, Tropical Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Central General Hospital in Can Tho, Central Highlands General Hospital, and the Central Veterinary Hygiene Testing Center 1.

– The combined training program includes both theoretical and practical components, divided into five main modules, which are as follows:

– Application of MALDI-TOF technology in rapid diagnosis of bloodborne pathogens and drug-resistant bacteria, and the use of the Sepsityper Kit for identifying the causative agents of bloodstream infections from positive blood cultures.

– Bacterial genome sequencing technique using the latest generation sequencing technology from Illumina.

– Application of multiplex PCR technique with FILM ARRAY for diagnosing pathogens in respiratory tract infections.

– DNA sequencing using Nanopore technology.

Biomedic Scientific Supplies Joint Stock Company is honored to be invited by the organizing committee to introduce and guide during the three-day training course. Expert Nguyen Thi Hong Nhung, Head of the Applied Technical Department at Biomedic, delivered presentations and provided hands-on instructions on the overview of Illumina sequencing technology and the application of the Miseq system for genetic research in infectious diseases, cancer, and genetic mutations. During the course, expert Hong Nhung highlighted the outstanding features of Illumina technology in bacterial genome profiling and antibiotic resistance determination.

The training program is part of a series of activities under the Fleming Fund project, which is funded through Phase 1 by FHI 360 from 2019 to 2023. The project aims to build and enhance the capacity for antibiotic resistance surveillance in Vietnam through the One Health approach (an approach based on the interaction between humans, animals, and the environment).

The project collaborates with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, and other relevant ministries to:

– Enhance information sharing and capacity building.

– Support activities related to antibiotic resistance prevention, monitoring, and improvement of policy systems.

– Support the strengthening of laboratory capacity according to ISO standards, technical expertise, and updating of new knowledge.

With updated knowledge of advanced technology, laboratory personnel are able to grasp the application procedures to provide more accurate analysis results within an optimal timeframe. This serves as a basis for clinical doctors to prescribe appropriate antibiotic usage, including the correct standard, dosage, type, and target, in order to limit antibiotic resistance.

Reference sources:

• https://www.fhi360.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/resource-fleming-fund-vietnam-fact-sheet.pdf
• https://iehsd.vn/vi/hoi-nghi-chia-se-thong-tin-ve-chuong-trinh-va-ket-qua-giam-sat-nghien-cuu-khang-khang-sinh-tai-viet-nam.html