Barry David Cookson
Biography
| Affiliations | Division of lnfection and lmmunity, University College London |
| Education | B.D.S. (Hons), University of London December 1971, M.B., B.S., University of London December 1975 M.R.C.P. (U.K.) by examination July 1979, USA Visa Qualifying Examination September 1980, MSc. Medical Microbiology, Imperial College and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine September 1981, M.R.C.Path. by examination (Medical Microbiology) July 1982, F.R.C.Path. July 1994, Honorary Diploma in Hospital Infection, Control, University of London July 1999, Fellow Roy. Soc. Public Health September 2003, Fellow Roy. College Physicians October 2006, Fellow Faculty Public Health October 2011, Doctor of Science, Imperial College London January 2020. |
Barry Cookson has had over 40 years’ experience in all aspects of medical microbiology. Between 1990 and 2012 he directed the National UK Centre of Healthcare Associated Infection. He has been involved in guideline development in many areas e.g., MRSA, Gram negative rods as well as chairing the UK Department of Health group that developed the world’s first antimicrobial stewardship competencies and helping to adapt these within Europe for the leading EU Society (ESCMID). Dr Cookson has been an external consultant to the WHO since 1990 and helped them develop many previous guidelines e.g., hand hygiene, injection safety as well as belonging to the group that advised WHO on SARS. Since the start of SARS2 (2020) he has advised WHO on guidance for, and research related to, infection control. The Royal College of Physicians awarded him their first ever Lifetime Achievement Award in May 2017 and Imperial College awarded him a DSc in 2020 following external examination.