Our Services
The Microbiology Department at Concord Hospital provides diagnostic microbiology services for Concord and Canterbury Hospital. In addition, the laboratory has a special interest in the diagnosis of fungal, parasitic, mycobacterial, and gastrointestinal infections as well as detection of antimicrobial resistance. The laboratory also provides a veterinary diagnostic service. For enquiries about veterinary specimens, please contact laboratory reception on 02 9767 6904.
Consult the NSW Health Pathology Test Catalogue for information on tests available and specimen collection: NSW Health Pathology Test Catalogue
All Staff Specialists within the department have dual qualifications (FRACP and FRCPA) in the clinical management of Infectious Diseases.
The Department supports the hospital's Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Prevention and Control programs, working closely with the infection prevention nursing and AMS pharmacy teams. Department staff chair the AMS and Infection Prevention and Control committees and provide advice on outbreak management.
For laboratory enquiries, phone laboratory reception on 02 9767 6904 (staffed 8.00am to 5.00pm weekdays). Laboratory staff can also be reached directly on 02 9767 6658, including on weekends and after hours.
Outpatients
Patients with a request form for any pathology provider can have their blood tests or specimens tested at Concord Microbiology. Collection centres are located on the ground floor in the Concord Hospital main entrance and on the lower ground floor of the Rusty Priest building.
Infectious Diseases Clinic
Level 6 West, Multi Building (Building 5), Thursdays 2 - 4.30pm All visits are by appointment only with a referral (see Services tab) which can be faxed or GPs can refer using the Sydney LHD Hospitals Services Infectious Diseases HealthLink SmartForm, for more information see HealthPathways Sydney.
Interests
Laboratory and clinical expertise includes:
- General Microbiology
- Parasitology
- Enteric Pathogens
- Mycology
- Mycobacteriology
- Complex infections
Education
Teaching and training are an important part of the department's work. The department is closely affiliated with the University of Sydney and other academic institutions, and its staff teach medical students and junior doctors. The Department contributes to Concord Hospital's training program for doctors specialising in internal medicine, and supervises doctors undertaking specialist training in Infectious Diseases, Microbiology, or both.
Research
The department is research active and collaborates with the University of Sydney and other academic and clinical institutions, including participation in international multicentre studies. Staff also contribute to the supervision of higher degree research students. Current areas of research and collaboration include:
- Investigator-led and multicentre clinical trials
- Mycobacteriology, including tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections
- Antimicrobial resistance
- Parasitology
- Medical mycology
- Antimicrobial stewardship
- Infection prevention and control
- Environmental surveillance including whole genome sequencing
- Multidrug-resistant organism screening
In addition to its own research, Concord Microbiology plays a key role in supporting research across Concord Hospital and partner institutions, providing laboratory expertise, specimen processing and microbiological testing for studies led by other departments.
