The shift from traditional microbiology to molecular and next-generation sequencing methods is making its way into numerous fields. These innovative molecular techniques are being introduced in areas such as forensic medicine and women's health and reproduction. Over the two-day course, the benefits of these techniques will be demonstrated using real-world examples. There are many challenges and uncertainties surrounding the approach and diagnosis of STIs after sexual assaults, both in emergency clinical settings and in clinical microbiology labs. The course will cover sampling approaches, diagnostic methods, and how to perform phylogenetic analysis of sexually transmitted pathogens. Experts in the field will provide in-depth insights on these topics and treatment of these victims will be discussed. Quality issues and guidelines in microbiology and molecular labs will be discussed with a focus on handling problematic samples, such as those with damaged DNA due to formalin fixation or time lapse. The microbiological quality issues in reproductive laboratories will be covered also. Finally, the role of microbiomes, with a particular focus on practical applications in the forensic field and in general on the reproductive system will be covered.
Intended audience:
Clinical Microbiologists, Infectious Disease Specialists, Gynaecologists, Paediatricians, Molecular Biologists, Pathologists, Forensic Physicians, students and trainees interested in the clinical, molecular and forensic issues concerning STI and reproductive health.
Objectives:
Course coordinator:
Veroniek Saegeman
UZ Leuven
Belgium
Organisers:
ESGFOR - Forensic and Postmortem Microbiology
ESGMD - Genomic and Molecular Diagnostic
Accreditation:
The ESCMID Education team will apply for accreditation to the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME®)
Certification:
Course organisers will monitor attendance. Only participants attending live sessions will be able to receive the certification.