The role of the consultant clinical microbiologist:

A- Regular contact with clinical colleagues to ensure the appropriate investigation for the clinical conditions, and that good quality specimeas are sent
Organize the laboratory so that the relevant investigations are carried out reliably, safely and economically. Important results are communicated to colleagues and discussed.
B- As regard consultation on the investigation and management of patients with infection problems. Seeing patient on the words, temp. charts, drug shets. Etc., together with clinical colleagues
Discussing difficult clinical problems and management of out breaks of infectious disease
C-As regards Control of hospital infection: design implementation of policies on the use of antibiotics, isolation procedures, sterilization and disinfection
D- As regard teaching research: Education of medical staff about infections, the use of antibiotics, disinfectants. Etc.
-Research on epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment or prevention of infections.
Provision of essential clinical information:
The information routinely required in laboratory request: age, brief details of the main clinical condition , date of onset of the illness, antibiotic therapy, history of recent travel abroad, suspected source of infection.
Prior Discussion with microbiologist.
To achieve the best use of the laboratory certain types of investigation need to be discussed with the microbiologist. These include, assay of antibiotics the isolation of viruses, molecular biology tests, and the investigations of possible cross infection incidents