Capacity building activities

Overview report of strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations to improve capacity for detection and characterisation of antimicrobial-resistant priority pathogens in national networks of clinical laboratories

The report is based on a survey to map the capacity for detection and characterisation of antimicrobial-resistant priority pathogens (carbapenem- and/or colistin-resistant Enterobacterales, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii) within their national networks of clinical laboratories. The survey addressed the following:

• Information about the national networks, criteria for submission of clinical samples to the CLs
• Diagnostic testing, quality of laboratory services
• Reporting/management of test results from the CLs
• Participation in national/international surveillance
• Referral of samples to the national reference laboratories (NRLs)
• Membership of laboratory network, staffing situation
• The support in demand by the CLs from the NRLs.