Research
We are committed to improving patient care and safety through our bench-to-bedside translational research. Our strengths in achieving this are our hospital base, our collaborative approach and our combined expertise which includes basic scientists, epidemiologists, clinician scientists and clinical microbiologists.
We investigate and identify novel ways to prevent and treat healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). This is important as HAIs are increasingly caused by antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria, or ‘superbugs’ such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) and carbapenamase-producing enterobacterales (CPE).
We investigate the epidemiology of clostridioides difficile infection to identify areas for infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship intervention. We also investigate acute and chronic infections involving bacterial biofilms such as device-related infections and infections associated with cystic fibrosis and diabetes mellitus.
Our multidisciplinary translational research programme addresses the societal challenge of infection and AMR, covering epidemiology, infection prevention and control as well as the pathogenic mechanisms of infection. These studies underpin the advancement of innovative healthcare solutions including novel decontamination methods, better diagnostic tools and new medicines and interventions. In addition, our research informs healthcare policy to shape clinical practices leading to improved patient safety and clinical outcomes.
Departmental staff participate in a variety of public engagement and media events to highlight the importance of HAIs, AMR prevention and sepsis management. Informed by our research and clinical activities, we contribute significantly to healthcare policy, national guidelines and national clinical programmes through membership of national and international committees.
Healthcare education
The Department recognises the importance of the speciality in both undergraduate and postgraduate education. At undergraduate level we have developed and evaluated on novel approaches to teach important aspects of infection prevention and control as well as antimicrobial stewardship using technology enhanced learning methods.
Our approach to teaching our undergraduate students to use antimicrobials wisely was highlighted as an example of best practice in education by the European branch of Healthcare Without Harm to prevent the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.
In collaboration with colleagues from the other pathology disciplines, we developed a core curriculum for undergraduate education in Irish medical schools, which was endorsed by the Faculty of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI). In this, the Department recommended core knowledge and competencies in clinical microbiology that all clinicians should aspire to have upon graduation.
At a postgraduate level, many of our academics act as RCPI clinical microbiology SpR trainers and mentors of professionals who have chosen clinical microbiology as their speciality.