Guidelines and online resources for FRCPath Microbiology

In this post, we will try to list resources available online that you may use to prepare for your examination. The list, as always the case with any such lists, is not complete. Many more helpful resources are available, which I may not have listed or even know. You must read those documents as well, and I would be grateful if you could let me know about them in the comment section.

The youtube video will explain the utility of these resources, so I encourage you to see the video, but if you just want the list, you can find it on this page.

Curriculum

• https://www.rcpath.org/trainees/training/training-by-specialty.html

• https://www.rcpath.org/trainees/training/training-by-specialty/medical-microbiology-2021.html

BNF

List of antibiotic we use in the UK - you must read these antibiotics

• https://bnfc.nice.org.uk/

• https://bnf.nice.org.uk/

You can find a list made from BNF in this google sheet. Make a copy for yourself.

FDA and PEW trust

Here you can find recently approved and pipeline antibiotics which are also important for the examination. Pay special attention to the recently approved antibiotics.

• https://www.fda.gov/drugs/development-approval-process-drugs/new-drugs-fda-cders-new-molecular-entities-and-new-therapeutic-biological-products

• https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/data-visualizations/2014/antibiotics-currently-in-clinical-development?utm_campaign=LM+-+ARP+-+Innovation+Update+March+2021+-+3+11+21&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Pew

MHRA

These websites will give you information on what going on in the UK. Regulatory updates, approvals, new adverse effects etc. I recommend checking this website and going back up to a year from your examination date, especially if you are preparing for part 2.

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/medicines-and-healthcare-products-regulatory-agency

Greenbook

Greenbook is a series of documents which gives you most if not all the information about vaccines.

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immunisation-against-infectious-disease-the-green-book

Immunoglobulin handbook

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immunoglobulin-when-to-use

National SMI & EUCAST

This are the most important documents for laboratory aspect of microbiology. National SMI will give you information on processing specimen, laboratory tests, staining, syndromic algorithm - this is the standard we follow in the UK. You must read these documents.

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/standards-for-microbiology-investigations-smi

EUCAST is the standard used for sensitivity test. For the FRCPath microbiology this standard should be followed (not CLSI).

https://eucast.org/

Reference laboratory user manuals

UK has several reference laboratories which support the local laboratories. There are valuable information in these laboratories manuals. You may find information about typing, reference range and the tests available. You may wish to make note of what tests are available for individual organism and disease.

• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/specialist-and-reference-microbiology-laboratory-tests-and-services

• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bacteriology-reference-department-brd-user-manual

• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/virus-reference-department-vrd-user-manual

• https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/faculties/itd/teaching-and-diagnostic-unit/diagnostic-parasitology-laboratory

• https://www.nbt.nhs.uk/severn-pathology/pathology-services/antimicrobial-reference-laboratory/antimicrobial-reference-laboratory-resources

Laboratory safety and quality

• https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/clinical-laboratories.pdf

• https://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/laboratories.htm

• https://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/management-containment-labs.pdf

• Quality manual – https://mft.nhs.uk/app/uploads/2021/02/Manchester-Quality-Manual.pdf

• Hospital safety – https://www.aintreehospital.nhs.uk/media/11602/ii-health-safety-policy-ii-gen-pol-2-v2.pdf.

Laboratory reporting to public health:

• https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/926838/PHE_Laboratory_reporting_guidelines_October-2020-v3.pdf

• KAI, KPI: https://www.rcpath.org/profession/guidelines/kpis-for-laboratory-services.html

• ACDP: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/advisory-committee-on-dangerous-pathogens

Infection control

• epic3: National Evidence-Based Guidelines for Preventing Healthcare-Associated Infections in NHS Hospitals in England

• National Infection Prevention and Control Manual

• Healthcare infection society guidelines

Health Technical Memoranda (HTM)

https://www.england.nhs.uk/estates/health-technical-memoranda/

Health Building Notes

https://www.england.nhs.uk/estates/health-building-notes/

Guidelines

• NICE – https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance

• BIA guideline list – https://www.britishinfection.org/guidelines-resources/published-guidelines

• HIS guidelines – Healthcare infection society guidelines

• BASHH guidelines – https://www.bashh.org/guidelines

• BHIVA guidelines – https://www.bhiva.org/guidelines

• UK CVN guidelines – http://www.clinicalvirology.org/guidelines/

• British Transplantation Society guidelines – https://bts.org.uk/guidelines-standards/

• Health protection A to Z – https://www.gov.uk/topic/health-protection/infectious-diseases

• British Society of Rheumatology – https://www.rheumatology.org.uk/practice-quality/guidelines

• British Society of Haematology – https://b-s-h.org.uk/guidelines/

• British Thoracic Society – https://www.brit-thoracic.org.uk/quality-improvement/guidelines/

• Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists – https://www.rcog.org.uk/guidelines

• IDSA – https://www.idsociety.org/practice-guideline/practice-guidelines/

• ESCMID – https://www.escmid.org/guidelines_publications/guidelines/

• Guidelines.co.uk – https://www.guidelines.co.uk/

• Uptodate – https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search

• BMJ Best Practice – https://bestpractice.bmj.com/info/

• Microguide example – https://viewer.microguide.global/GHNFT/ADULT