Bacterial SIG
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
Membership
- Dr John Saunders PhD, MRCP (Co-Chair)
Clinical Champion, National Chlamydia Screening Programme
Public Health England, Colindale, London - Dr. Suneeta Soni MRCP (Co-Chair)
Consultant Physician in Genitourinary Medicine & HIV
Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton - Dr. Achyuta Nori MBBS, FRCP (UK), DipGUM, DipHIV
Consultant Physician in Genitourinary Medicine & HIV
Guy’s & St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust - Dr. Sheel Patel FRCP [Treasurer]
Consultant Physician in Genitourinary Medicine & HIV
56 Dean Street Clinic, London - Dr. Michelle Cole DBMS
Clinical Scientist, Public Health England - Dr Claire H Dewsnap FRCP
Consultant Physician Genitourinary Medicine
Sheffield Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust - Dr. Rachel Drayton MBChB, MRCP (secretary)
Consultant Physician in Genitourinary Medicine & HIV
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff - Dr. Helen Fifer BMBS, MRCP, FRCPath
Consultant Microbiologist
Public Health England, Colindale, London. - Dr. Emma Harding-Esch, PhD
Associate Professor, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine - Miss Victoria Miari BSc, MSc, PgDip
Principal Scientific Officer and Clinical Scientist
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine - Dr Rachel Pitt-Kendall MSc
Senior Biomedical Scientist, Public Health England - Dr. Amanda Samarawickrama PhD, MBBS, MRCP, DipGUM, DipHIV, DFSRH, DTMH
Consultant Physician in Genitourinary Medicine & HIV
Sexual Health South West London
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 admin@bashh.org [BASHH, C/O Executive Business Support, City Wharf, Davidson Road, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS14 9DZ, United Kingdom]
Lecture by Professor David Taylor-Robinson
This is a unique opportunity to hear a lecture by Professor David Taylor-Robinson, an eminent microbiologist who discovered Mycoplasma genitalium. David was an original member of the Bacterial Special Interest Group and is an Emeritus Professor at Imperial College London. The keynote lecture was given at the Hic-Vac Annual General Meeting in Liverpool and gives an historical perspective of human challenge studies including the ethical principles that have developed and changed over time. A summary of the content by Professor Taylor Robinson can be seen here and the lecture itself can be viewed by clicking on the link:
https://www.hic-vac.org/news/highlights-our-2nd-annual-general-meeting-2018.
BSIG micro educational resource
BSIG have developed a free educational website covering in detail investigations for bacterial STIs with a focus on microscopy. This replaces the previously produced DVD. For access to the BSIG micro website, please click here
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.
BSIG Microscopy Courses
Date: Postponed. The BSIG are looking at new ways to deliver the teaching and practical content of this course.
Microscopy Training
As part of its commitment to training the BSIG have produced the following microscopy competency and assessment documents.
Appendix 2 Competency assessment
BSIG Annual Reports
Links to other sites
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
The GRASP sentinel surveillance system involves the collection of N. gonorrhoeae isolates from consecutive individuals attending a network of 27 sexual health clinics (SHCs) across England and Wales and their 21 associated laboratories, typically between July and September annually. Click here for latest GRASP report.
- GRASP Report 2021
- WHO Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme (GASP)
- Gonococcal Isolate Surveillance Project (GISP)
A collaborative project to monitor antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the United States - Neisseria webpage
- https://ecdc.europa.eu/en/sexually-transmitted-infections-sti
Mycoplasma genitalium
The M. genitalium antimicrobial resistance surveillance (MARS) pilot was established to assess the feasibility of conducting sentinel surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in M. genitalium from specimens collected in sentinel sexual health clinics across England. Click here for the 2019 pilot report.
Publications and position statements:
Please click here for the BASHH Position Statement on the inappropriate use of multiplex testing platforms, and suboptimal antibiotic treatment regimens for bacterial sexually transmitted infections.
Please click here for the BASHH position statement on the position statement on doxycycline as prophylaxis for sexually transmitted infection 2021
Test of cure study: a feasibility study to estimate the time to test of cure (TOC) for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis infections
B. Sultan, P. Benn, G. Schrembi et al. Sexually transmitted Infections 2020;96:402-407
Epidemiology
SHIP (Sexual Health Improvement Programme: http://www.bristolhealthpartners.org.uk/health-integration-teams/sexual-health-improvement-hit/more-about-shipp/) was set up as a Bristol Health Partners Health Integration Team in 2013. It brings together experts from across disciplines to improve the sexual health of people in the region and reduce STIs, supporting the commissioning of evidence-based sexual health services. Our priorities are: increasing uptake of HIV testing; improving STI testing and responding to antimicrobial resistant (AMR) infections; increasing patient and public involvement in sexual health and ending stigma; ending domestic violence; reducing health inequalities; implementing informatics and digital transformation; developing a national network for sexual health improvement. A major focus for the next three years will be evaluating and developing strategies, including vaccination, for combating the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in STIs. Stay up-to-date with our newsletters: http://www.hpruei.nihr.ac.uk/publications/ship-news-newsletter-of-the-sexual-health-improvement-programme/
STIRIG (Sexually Transmitted Infections Research Interest Group, based at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine) aims to: Help raise awareness of STI-related research being conducted at LSHTM; Increase cross-disciplinary and cross-Faculty work on STIs; Develop internal and external collaborations; Maximise funding opportunities. Find out more at: https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/centres-projects-groups/stirig
Medical Societies