Training and assessment of medical specialists in clinical microbiology and Infectious Diseases in europe

Beeching, Nicholas ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7019-8791, Rautelin, Hilpi, Stahl, Jean-Paul and Leegaard, Truls M (2021) 'Training and assessment of medical specialists in clinical microbiology and Infectious Diseases in europe'. Clinical Microbiology and Infection, Vol 27, Issue 11, pp. 1581-1588.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND
There is wide variation in the availability and training of specialists in the diagnosis and management of infections across Europe.

OBJECTIVES
To describe and reflect on the current objectives, structure and content of European curricula and examinations for the training and assessment of medical specialists in Clinical (Medical) Microbiology (CM/MM) and Infectious Diseases (ID).

SOURCES
Narrative review of developments over the past two decades and related policy documents and scientific literature.

CONTENT
Responsibility for curricula and examinations lies with the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). The ID Section of UEMS was inaugurated in 1997 and the MM Section separated from Laboratory Medicine in 2008. The Sections collaborate closely with each other and the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID). Updated European Training Requirements (ETR) were approved for MM in 2017 and ID in 2018. These comprehensive curricula outline the framework for delivery of specialist training and quality control for trainers and training programmes, emphasizing the need for documented, regular formative reviews of progress of trainees. Competencies to be achieved include both specialty-related and generic knowledge, skills and professional behaviours. The indicative length of training is typically 5 years; a year of clinical training is mandated for CM/MM trainees and 6 months of microbiology laboratory training for ID trainees. Each Section is developing examinations using multiple choice questions to test the knowledge base defined in their ETR, to be delivered in 2022 following pilot examinations in 2021.

IMPLICATIONS
The revised ETRs and European examinations for medical specialists in CM/MM and ID provide benchmarks for national authorities to adapt or adopt locally. Through harmonisation of postgraduate training and assessment, they support the promotion and recognition of high standards of clinical practice and hence improved care for patients throughout Europe, and improved mobility of trainees and specialists.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	W General Medicine. Health Professions > W 21 Medicine as a profession. QW Microbiology and Immunology > QW 4 General works. Classify here works on microbiology as a whole. WA Public Health > Health Administration and Organization > WA 590 Health education, Health communication
Faculty: Department:	Clinical Sciences & International Health > Clinical Sciences Department Clinical Sciences & International Health > International Public Health Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2021.07.009
Depositing User:	Julie Franco
Date Deposited:	29 Jul 2021 10:03
Last Modified:	11 Jul 2022 01:02
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/18501

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