Microbiology

The Team

The Clinical Microbiology Team consists of four Consultant Medical Microbiologists. They are on site for consultation and clinical advice between 09:00 and 17:00. URGENT calls only will be taken between 16:00 and 17:00. An On Call Clinical Microbiologist can be contacted via switchboard after 17:00 each weekday and at weekends.

Please note that RUH share an On Call Rota with the Clinical Microbiologists at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, North Bristol Trust and Weston General Hospital.

For Clinical Advice enquiries during daytime hours (09:00 – 16:00) URGENT calls only between 16:00 – 17:00	01225 825428 (ext 5428)
For non-urgent clinical advice (Response within 5 working days)	ruh-tr.microbiologygeneric@nhs.net
Microbiology Lab Manager	01225 821950
Infection Prevention and Control	01225 825450
For Clinical Advice enquiries Out of Hours (Post 5pm)	RUH switchboard – ask for On Call Consultant Microbiologist

Antibiotic and other Microbiology Guidelines
RUH Internal resource - available on site only via a NHS-networked computer

For infection control advice please contact the Infection Control Team on ext 4754 between
09:00 and 17:00, Monday - Friday or the On Call Clinical Microbiologist outside these hours.

Specimens

Blood cultures & urgent specimens

There is a small 'Hot Lab' on site that processes all blood cultures plus urgent specimens such as CSFs and some urgent intra-operative specimens.

Hours	Contact
Mon-Fri 09:00 – 17:00. Please call to inform the Hot Lab of any Urgent Specimens	01225 824747 (ext 4747)
Sat/Sun and Bank Holidays. Please Call to inform the Hot lab of any Urgent Specimens	01225 824747 (ext 4747)
Out of Hours (after 17:00) (processing of Urgent Specimens)	RUH switchboard – ask for On Call Consultant Microbiologist

The Hot Lab also provides some Onsite testing services (such as Flu/RSV, C. difficile and Norovirus PCR. For a description of Hot lab operation including Onsite testing services please see:

RUH Microbiology Handbook

All other specimens

All other specimens for Bacteriology/Virology/Mycology are sent to be processed at Public Health England/Severn Pathology Services Bristol Laboratory.

These specimens are transported four times a day from Pathology reception at RUH at 09:00, 13:00, 15:00 and 17:00 to the Bristol Laboratories.

For a full description of Services, Expected Turnaround Times, Specimen types and Collection please use the following link:

Severn Pathology Infection Sciences (Microbiology & Virology)

Microbiology Results Service

For technical enquiries and to follow up bacteriology/virology/mycology results

ext 4747

Note: Results of Positive Blood Cultures and significant Urgent Specimen results will be telephoned to the clinical team as soon as they become available by the RUH Clinical Microbiology team or one of the On Call Consultant Microbiologists.