Laboratory of HealthCare Associated Infection (LHCAI)

Tel: 020 8200 4400
Fax: 020 8200 7449

Director: Dr Barry Cookson
Deputy Director: Dr Tyrone Pitt

The Laboratory of HealthCare Associated Infection (LHCAI) is CPA accredited.  It comprises two units.

• Epidemiological Typing Reference Unit
• Infection Control Unit

The Laboratory has a wide remit including the provision of a comprehensive microbial typing service. It provides national reference facilities for staphylococci, enterococci and various gram-negative rods including Klebsiella spp, Enterobacter spp, Serratia spp, Pseudomonas spp, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Burkholderia spp (including cepacia and pseudomallei and Acinetobacter spp.).

We receive bacterial isolates and serological samples from Public Health, National Health and commercial laboratories throughout the UK. We perform surveys of the occurrence of most nosocomial pathogens and links with other typing networks or systems that enable us to monitor the national and international spread of these organisms.

We have a particular interest in exploring ways in which infection control and antimicrobial prescribing control strategies can limit the rise of antimicrobial resistance.  We devise surveillance strategies, liaise with or establish national and international networks and are involved in many aspects of policy design, audit and review cycles. 

The staff of LHCAI advise and educate infection control teams (ICTs), health care workers and the Department of Health on the surveillance, guidelines and audit activity, prevention and control of infection, including the management of outbreaks and the appropriate use of antibiotics and disinfectants (with the Antibiotic Resistance Monitoring and Reference Laboratory). LHCAI also provides advice on managing outbreaks of infection with support on-site as necessary.  There are extensive links with international centres, especially in the European Union.