Department of Microbiological Diagnostics
The Department of Microbiological Diagnostics is an organizational unit of the Institute that deals with clinical microbiology and immunology. Clinical microbiology plays a unique role related to the successful treatment of infectious diseases. Diagnostic procedures and the results obtained are significant for establishing etiological diagnoses, as well as for rational and valid antibiotic therapy.
Microbiological testing of clinical samples is conducted in accordance with the international standard for medical laboratories SRPS EN ISO 15189:2014, which is also confirmed by the accreditation certificate issued by the Accreditation Body of Serbia – ATS.
Laboratory activities of the Microbiological Diagnostics Department are conducted in the following laboratories:
- laboratory for the diagnosis of bacterial and fungal infections from various clinically significant samples;
- laboratory for mycobacteria;
- laboratory for blood cultures and sterility control;
- laboratory for immunology;
- laboratory for virological testing
- laboratory for the preparation of culture media and sterilization.
The primary activity of the Service is the isolation and identification of bacteria that are the causative agents of bacterial infections. The isolation and identification of pathogens are performed using conventional microbiological methods and commercial biochemical tests. Testing the sensitivity of pathogens to antibiotics is conducted using the disk diffusion method and gradient concentration (E-test) for individual antibiotics, according to the guidelines of the standards recommended by the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing. In microbiological diagnostics, a modern device for continuous monitoring of blood cultures, the BacT/Alert system, is applied.
In the diagnosis of mycobacterial diseases, in addition to culture on solid media according to Lowenstein-Jensen, the BacT/Alert device is used for automated tuberculosis diagnosis. The device allows for a reduction in the time required for diagnosing diseases caused by bacteria of the genus Mycobacterium.
The laboratory performs the QantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) diagnostic test, which is an indirect test for the detection of infection with the M. tuberculosis complex.
The laboratory is simultaneously a Level III laboratory for tuberculosis diagnostics and a regional laboratory for the entire Vojvodina area, as the identification to the species level and resistance testing for M. tuberculosis is exclusively conducted in this laboratory.
In the immunology laboratory, in addition to immunodiagnostics of rheumatic and autoimmune diseases, the most advanced technique using the Uni Cap 100 device is employed to test group inhalant and nutritional allergens and to determine eosinophil cationic protein, which monitors the course and effect of inflammation treatment.
The Service conducts virological testing, significant for pulmonary diseases. These tests are performed using the ELISA technique, which determines IgM and IgG antibodies for viruses: Adenovirus, Cytomegalovirus, Influenza types A and B, Coxsackievirus, and bacteria: Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, as well as for the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. This technique demonstrates the Aspergillus galactomannan antigen from serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL).
The laboratory for the preparation of culture media produces all types of basic and special media, buffers, and solutions for the needs of the Center, as well as for commercial purposes.
The Microbiological Diagnostics Service plays a significant role in the hospital infection control program. It monitors the frequency of specific pathogens and the state of antibiotic resistance in the hospital environment, as well as oversight of hospital hygiene, sterilization, and disinfection.
The activities of the Service are carried out by:
two specialist doctors in microbiology, who are doctors of medical sciences, a physician in specialization, and fourteen laboratory technicians
