Asia Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection

Asia Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection
Name	Asia Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection
Abbreviation	APSCMI
Formation	1990s
Type	Non-profit professional society
Headquarters	Asia Pacific
Region served	Asia-Pacific
Leader title	President

Asia Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection is a regional professional association focused on clinical microbiology, infectious disease management, and antimicrobial resistance in the Asia-Pacific region. The society engages with academic institutions such as University of Tokyo, National University of Singapore, and Peking University and professional bodies including World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Infectious Diseases Society of America to advance standards in clinical laboratory practice, hospital infection control, and public health responses.

History

The society was established during a period of growing collaboration between institutions like World Health Organization Western Pacific Regional Office, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and regional universities such as University of Hong Kong, Seoul National University, and Monash University; founders included clinicians and microbiologists affiliated with Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Early meetings brought together delegations from Japan Society of Clinical Microbiology, Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology, and Australian Society for Microbiology and interfaced with initiatives from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, and European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Over successive decades the society expanded its remit to address crises exemplified by events such as the SARS outbreak, H1N1 influenza pandemic, and the emergence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, aligning with multinational responses involving Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

Mission and Objectives

The society's stated mission aligns with global frameworks promoted by World Health Assembly, Global Health Security Agenda, and Sustainable Development Goals to reduce the burden of infectious disease and contain antimicrobial resistance. Objectives emphasize capacity building through partnerships with institutions like Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Harvard Medical School, and regional centers such as Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences and Chiang Mai University. The society prioritizes development of clinical guidance in concert with organizations such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and supports training programs linked to World Federation of Societies of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.

Organizational Structure and Membership

Governance follows models used by societies like Infectious Diseases Society of America, European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, and American Society for Microbiology with an executive committee, regional representatives from territories including China, India, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and Philippines, and specialist working groups on topics comparable to committees in Royal College of Physicians and Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Membership comprises clinical microbiologists, infectious disease physicians, and laboratory scientists affiliated with hospitals such as Singapore General Hospital, Siriraj Hospital, and AIIMS New Delhi, research institutes like Pasteur Institute, and public health agencies including Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Taiwan and provincial health departments. Associate members include representatives from World Health Organization, academic publishers like Oxford University Press, and philanthropic funders such as Wellcome Trust.

Conferences, Education, and Awards

The society organizes biennial congresses modeled on conferences like International Congress on Infectious Diseases, European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, and Asia Pacific Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infection (regional partners), and hosts symposia in collaboration with universities including University of Sydney and National Taiwan University Hospital. Educational initiatives encompass workshops on laboratory standards reflecting guidelines from Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute and training fellowships comparable to programs at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Awards recognize career achievements and young investigators in the tradition of honors like the Croonian Lecture, Lasker Award, and society-specific prizes, often presented at joint meetings with bodies such as Australian Academy of Science and Japanese Society for Infectious Diseases.

Research, Guidelines, and Publications

Research priorities mirror those of international programs led by World Health Organization, Wellcome Trust consortia, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with emphasis on antimicrobial stewardship, diagnostics, and surveillance of pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. The society develops regional guidance drawing on methodology used by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and collaborates on multicenter studies with institutions like Kawasaki Medical School, National Institutes of Health, and Osaka University. Publications include proceedings, consensus statements, and position papers often published in partnership with journals such as The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Clinical Infectious Diseases, Journal of Clinical Microbiology, and regional periodicals associated with Asian Pacific Journal of Allergy and Immunology.

Regional Collaborations and Impact

The society engages in policy dialogues with regional stakeholders including ASEAN, APEC Health Working Group, and national ministries of health from countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, and partners with research networks such as Asia Pacific Clinical Trials Network and Regional Emerging Diseases Intervention (REDI) Centre. Its contributions have informed national action plans on antimicrobial resistance modeled on frameworks by World Health Organization and supported capacity strengthening in laboratory networks akin to programs by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Global Fund. Through collaborations with universities, hospitals, and international agencies, the society has impacted surveillance, outbreak response, and clinician education across the Asia-Pacific region.

Category:Medical associations Category:Microbiology organizations Category:Infectious disease organizations