Events in 2023

The new molecular pathology Specialist Portfolio

Explanation of the various serological and molecular techniques that are available to identify novel blood groups. Discussing how these cases may present within the hospital and RCI labortories through to publication and ratification at the International Society of Blood Transfusion.

The aim for this session is to carry on with the patient’s journey to final diagnosis. This presentation will discuss how the valuable material obtained from ROSE clinics are utilised in making a diagnosis and provide prognostic/treatment related information.

With the use of a number of examples, this presentation will illustrate how cytology impacts on patient’s management pathway, and how a standardised reporting system could be useful in unifying diagnostic pathways and performing future work on audit and quality improvement.

Finally, the strengths and limitations of head and neck cytology from the perceptive of a histo/cytopathologist will be discussed

IIF and Artificial Intelligence

Clinical Liaison Role in Wales – an update on the journey so far

Your career in Clinical Biochemistry: IBMS qualifications and the role of the Advisory Panel

vWF Guideline Update

CRYOSTAT 2 trial

Many of us have diagnosed, treated or researched Clostridiodes difficile infection (CDI) for many years and probably know the organism and the disease it produces very well indeed. But how well do we really know it? In truth, we only know this from our own perspective. What is it really like to suffer from CDI? How well do the pathways and guidance we contribute to function in the experience patients?

This talk will focus on patient experiences of CDI, what they can teach us as clinicians and researchers and why involving patients and the public in designing our research and clinical services can help everyone.

Diphtheria is a potentially fatal disease caused by strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, C. ulcerans or C. pseudotubercolosis that express the diphtheria toxin. It can present as a respiratory infection or as non-healing skin wounds. Diphtheria was historically most likely to be caused by C. diphtheriae. It is very rare in England (typically <10 cases per year) due to a successful routine immunisation programme. However, there has been a recent gradual increase in cases over several years, particularly cutaneous infections and those caused by toxigenic C. ulcerans strains (which can be carried by household pets).

In 2022, there was a particulary large increase in diphtheria in England, with 87 cases and 3 deaths. This included 72 toxigenic C. diphtheriae infections in asylum seekers, thought to be aquired during their travel to the UK. Symptoms ranged from severe respiratory diphtheria to cutaneous infections and asymptomatic carriage. Similar increases of C. diphtheriae infections in travelling migrants have been seen in several European countries. Some of these isolates are multidrug resistant, including to macrolides, the default recommendation for treatment, and this will require careful monitoring.