Training on implementation of revised SOP in bacteriology including fastidious and newly added pathogens in GLASS-AMR

17-21 June and 5-9 August | Kathmandu, Bagmati province - The National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), under Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), with support from WHO Country Office for Nepal, conducted two five-day training sessions to enhance the skills of laboratory staff working at Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) surveillance sites and provincial public health laboratories across Nepal. 32 lab personnel were updated on procedures for isolation and identification of fastidious pathogens, included in both the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) and WHO bacterial priority pathogen list. The hands-on training covered both theoretical and practical aspects of proper sample collection and processing, isolation and identification of pathogens, data management, quality control and the use of a revised Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Proper implementation of the SOP in routine practice will ensure uniformity in testing procedures, and enhance the participants' ability to accurately identify pathogens, report antibiotic susceptibility results and generate high-quality data. This will contribute significantly to improve AMR containment and reporting. The trainings were supported by the Fleming Fund, UK's Department of Health and Social Care.