Event highlights
19 November 2024
Sixty bacteriologists from clinical and veterinary microbiology laboratories across the Osh, Batken and Jalal-Abad regions of Kyrgyzstan participated in this intensive training workshop aimed at enhancing their skills in microbiological diagnostics.
The workshop offered a comprehensive programme combining theoretical sessions with practical training. Participants gained hands-on experience in key areas of bacteriology, including sample collection and processing, bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
Building skills for precision diagnostics
Emphasis was placed on best practices for collecting and handling clinical specimens, ensuring sample integrity and preventing contamination – critical steps for accurate diagnostics. Participants learned to differentiate between normal and pathogenic flora, interpret culture results and understand the clinical significance of their findings.
Training also focused on identifying bacterial morphology, differentiating gram-positive from gram-negative bacteria, and applying advanced diagnostic techniques. Experts introduced participants to the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) guidelines, helping them interpret breakpoint tables and accurately define antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Practical sessions covered disk diffusion and other antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods, emphasizing quality control protocols to ensure reliable results. These techniques enable laboratories to provide precise guidance for treatment decisions, strengthening the health-care system’s response to AMR.
Fostering collaboration across sectors
Recognizing the interconnectedness of human and animal health sectors, the Global Health Security (GHS) programme emphasizes a One Health approach to AMR surveillance. The workshop provided a platform for clinical and veterinary microbiologists to collaborate, share insights and address shared challenges.
“This training equips our microbiologists with the skills and tools needed to detect and monitor AMR effectively,” said a WHO official. “By investing in laboratory capacity, we are strengthening Kyrgyzstan’s health system and its ability to respond to public health threats.”
As AMR continues to pose a global health challenge, initiatives like this workshop underscore the critical role of well-equipped and trained laboratories in safeguarding public health. Through collaborative efforts under the GHS programme, Kyrgyzstan is advancing its capacity to combat AMR and protect its communities.
Event notice
11 - 23 November 2024
Laboratories are critical to strong health systems, providing the foundation for disease outbreak control, pharmaceutical and vaccine safety surveillance, and timely treatment of acute and chronic illnesses. However, growing concerns about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) highlight the urgent need for robust laboratory networks, quality assurance and standardized diagnostic methodologies.
To address these challenges, WHO is organizing an intensive training workshop to enhance the expertise of bacteriologists in microbiological diagnostics. This workshop, a key initiative under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Global Health Security programme, will take place on 11–23 November 2024 in Kyrgyzstan.
The event will mark a significant step forward in building laboratory capacity to address AMR.