Bacterial Special Interest Group

The Bacterial Special Interest Group (BSIG) works under the auspices of BASHH to provide educational and research support in the field of bacterial sexually transmitted infections.

Aims
To promote communication between microbiologists and clinicians involved in the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infection by:

  • offering courses in specialist areas e.g. microscopy course
  • production of educational material
  • organisation of symposia on new areas
  • arranging update meetings, e.g. syphilis update days

Steering Committee
The steering committee is responsible for promoting the aims of the group and comprises:

  • Professor Catherine Ison PhD, FRCPath [BSIG Chair]
    Director, Sexually Transmitted Bacteria Reference Laboratory.
    Health Protection Agency, London.

  • Dr. Sarah Alexander PhD
    Clinical Scientist (Microbiology),
    Health Protection Agency, London.

  • Dr. Paul Benn MB ChB FRCP
    Consultant in GUM & HIV,
    The Mortimer Market Centre, University College Hospital London..
  • Dr. Andrew Benzie, MRPharms, MSc, MBChB, MRCP, DFFP, Dip GUM
    Locum Consultant Physician in Genitourinary Medicine & HIV,
    Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust, London.
  • Ms. Caroline Carder MSc FIBMS
    Clinical Microbiology Molecular Diagnostics and Development Manager
    University College Hospital London.
  • Dr. Elizabeth Claydon FRCP
    Consultant Physician in Genitourinary Medicine & HIV
    North Devon District Hospital, Devon.

  • Dr. Arnold Fernandes MRCOG, DFFP, DipGUM
    Consultant Physician in Genitourinary Medicine & HIV,
    Royal United Hospital, Bath.

  • Mr. Justin Gaffney
    GUNA Chair. Consultant Nurse
    Metrosexual Health/SohoBoyz, London.

  • Dr. Beng Goh MBBS, FRCP, FRCPI, Dip Ven, Dip Derm
    Consultant Physician in Genitourinary Medicine & HIV
    Bart's & The London NHS Trust & Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust

  • Dr Phillip Hay FRCP
    Reader and Honorary Consultant in Genitourinary Medicine,
    St. George's, University of London.

  • Dr Patrick Horner MD, FRCP
    Consultant Senior Lecturer in Genitourinary Medicine,
    Bristol University and University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol.

  • Dr. Eva Jungmann FRCP MSc DipGUM
    Consultant Physician in Genitourinary Medicine & HIV
    Archway Sexual Health Clinic, London.

  • Dr. Frances Keane MD, FRCP [BSIG Secretary]
    Consultant Physician in Genitourinary Medicine & HIV
    Royal Cornwall Hospital, Turo.

  • Dr. Nigel O'Farrell MSc, MD, FRCP,
    Consultant Physician in Genitourinary Medicine & HIV
    Ealing Hospital, London.

  • Dr Catherine Lowndes PhD,
    Consultant Scientist (Epidemiology),
    Health Protection Agency, London

  • Professor Jonathan Ross MD, FRCP [BSIG Treasurer]
    Consultant Physician in Genitourinary Medicine & HIV
    Whittall Street Clinic, University Hospital Birmingham.

  • Dr. S. Uthayakumar
    Consultant Physician in Genitourinary Medicine & HIV
    Lister Hospital, Stevenage

How to join the BSIG
Any member of BASHH with an interest in bacterial sexually transmitted infections can apply to join the Bacterial Special Interest Steering Group. For informal enquiries please contact members of the Group directly or via bashh@rsm.ac.uk [BASHH Secretariat, 1 Wimpole Street, London, W1G 0AE, UK]

Microscopy for Sexually Transmitted Infections DVD

HPA dvd labelThe BSIG of BASHH has produced an educational DVD on "Microscopy for sexually transmittted infections (STIs). The DVD has video demonstrations of how to perform genital examinations of male and female patients and how to take appropropriate samples. Clinical images of common STIs and other genital conditions are shown throughout these sections.

In addition, there are demonstrations of various staining techniques, such as the Gram stain and how to set up a microscope for both brighfield and darkfield microscopy as well as sections on the interpretation of microscopy images. There is a section on genital ulceration and microscopy videos of Trichomonas vaginalis and spirochaetes. The DVD also contains advice on quality assurance and health and safety. Back-up PDF files accompany the video demonstrations.

Feedback from users of the DVD has been uniformly positive; many using it within their departments as a teaching aid for new staff members as well as medical and nursing students.

Please click here for a link to the DVD site, with some sample footage and ordering information

STI Slide Bank

Please find below a bank of test slides and corresponding questions put together by members of the BSIG to assess your microscopy interpretation skills.

STI slide-bank

BSIG Microscopy Courses

  • Light Microscopy Course

Date: 25 February 2012

 Microscopy Course registration form

The microscopy course is held at:  

 ROOM 122 and Foyer, SIR ALEXANDER FLEMING BUILDING, Laboratory MDL2 (Bays A-C), Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London

Cost: Including refreshments, Lunch, Course Manual and Microscopy for Sexually Transmitted Infections Laboratory Manual

Members £150.00 and Non-members £170.00

A waiting list is in operation for the course. Please note the course does NOT include Dark Ground microscopy, for which a separate half day course is organised.

Please contact Cathy Taylor for further details

  • email: palmtraining@tesco.net
  • Tel/Fax: 01384235207 / 0121 455 0809
  • Mobile: 07702012347
  • Address: Birmingham Medical Institute, 36 Harborne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3AF

Dark Ground Microscopy Course

Date: TBC

A half day dark ground microscopy course is run by the BSIG.

Contact: Krissie Lucas, Academic Co-ordinator for Sexual Health & HIV, Barts Sexual Health Centre, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, EC1A 7BE

Email: mailto:k.lucas@qmul.ac.uk

Microscopy Training

As part of its commitment to training the BSIG have produced the following draft microscopy competency and assessment documents.

The period of consultation is 3 months and all feedback should be sent to Dr. Keane (Frances.Keane@Cornwall.NHS.UK) by the 1st of October.

Microscopy for Sexually Transmitted Infections

Appendix 1 Training log

appendix 2 Competency assessment

BSIG Annual Reports

BSIG annual report 2007

BSIG annual report 2008

BSIG Minutes

BSIG Minutes - key points March 2009

BSIG Minutes - key points October 2008

BSIG minutes - key points october 2009

BSIG minutes - key points march 2010

Links to other sites

Microbiology

Epidemiology

Medical Societies

Mycology Network Report

Click here to view the by the Report by the Working Group of the Health Protection Agency Advisory Committee for Fungal Infection and Superficial Parasites, entitled "Fungal Diseases in the UK. The current inadequate provision of support for diagnosis and treatment: assessment and proposed network solution" produced " (Nov 2004)