About Department
The department at present has various sections and subspecialties. It runs MD/PhD/PDCC (Infectious Diseases) course in Microbiology. The immediate goals of the department, when conceived, were to provide investigational support to the existing super specialties and cutting edge research in the field of infectious diseases, to provide investigation support to community outbreaks/epidemics, dissemination of knowledge for prevention of infectious diseases, surveillance of hospital infection and antimicrobial policy for the hospital, hospital waste management and creation of trained manpower for further needs of the state and the country. The department is also identified as the WHO Surveillance centre for eradication program for polio in UP & Bihar. The ultimate aim of the department is to establish automation in Clinical Microbiology, molecular based diagnostic tests for rapid identification of infectious agents, their antimicrobial susceptibility and molecular epidemiology. The department also aims to develop public health microbiology so that the modern development can be transferred to the community The first academic course of MD in Microbiology was started in 1993, followed by PhD in 1994 and PDCC (Infectious diseases) in 1999. The department publishes an annual newsletter that includes distribution of pathogens, their antibiotic sensitivity and interesting case reports. Hospital Infection Prevention week is being organized every year and regular CME/ Workshop on antibiotic stewardship and infectious diseases are also held.
The Department is recognized as National Centre for Polio in the States of UP & Bihar and takes important steps for maintenance of mild and vaccine strains of polio isolated from the states. The Clinical Virology laboratory was established in the department with the help ofJICA in 1993. Equipments worth two crores were donated in early nineties. The virology section is an accredited center by WHO for polio eradication program with proficiency tests result of 100%. Since 1998 the department is actively involved in polio control and eradication programs in UP & Bihar. Wild polio has not been detected since 2011.
The facility for Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centre (VCTC) for HIV is available in the department. The virology laboratory is well equipped for the viral diagnostic services including tissue culture PCR/Real time PCR for endemic arboviruses. The department offers facility for diagnosis of opportunistic mycosis & pathogens and is actively engaged in community based studies on neurocysticercosis, investigation of measles, dengue and diarrhoeal outbreaks and acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis. Health Promotions through public lectures are undertaken regularly.