How can your microbiologist help you manage paediatric infection?

The presentation of a child to hospital with an acute illness is distressing for the child and his/her parents or carers. The clinical aim of the admitting paediatric team is to identify the cause of the illness, to treat it effectively and to discharge the child home quickly and safely. Multi-disciplinary care between the paediatric and the clinical microbiology team, who oversee and support the laboratory work of skilled scientists, is essential to manage paediatric infection. In this review, we will focus on current diagnostic methods for common paediatric microbiology consultations, with a focus on newer molecular technology to reduce laboratory turnaround time, and discuss the emergence of multi-drug resistant organisms that are impacting on antimicrobial prescribing practices. We will also highlight useful infection prevention and control advice that will be beneficial to the on-call paediatrician.