OVERVIEW: The department is a clinical laboratory involved in the diagnosis, treatment/control and monitoring of infectious diseases and infection-related conditions. It engages in both the laboratory and clinical duties to ensure that patients benefit maximally from the hospital services. The department is also very active in teaching and research.
DEPARTMENT’S HISTORY: The history of the department can be traced back to the year 1999 when the then General Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti-State was converted to the Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti and operated a joint laboratory in a single room housing Medical Microbiology, Haematology, Morbid Anatomy and Chemical Pathology units. All the units of the laboratory moved to a newly built laboratory complex in 2008 where they continued to operate as individual units under the then Pathology department.
It achieved the status of a department in 2010 after the splitting of the various units of the old Pathology department into 4 departments: Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Chemical Pathology, Haematology and Morbid Anatomy departments. The department has grown and enlarged over the years as a result of employment of dedicated and qualified workforce, procurement of modern state-of-art equipment and the introduction of numerous newer diagnostic techniques, including the recent establishment of a fully-equipped, modern, purpose-built molecular laboratory.
MEDICAL TEAM
| Consultant Medical Microbiologistv | 1 |
| Medical Officer | 2 |
| Resident Doctor | 1 |
| Medical Laboratory Scientists | 10 |
| Medical Laboratory Technician | 11 |
| Laboratory Superintendent | 2 |
| Scientific officers | 3 |
| Executive officer | 3 |
| Confidential Secretary | 1 |
| Clerical officer | 3 |
| Porter | 1 |
| Health Assistant | 7 |
AREAS OF SPECIALTY
Bacteriology Parasitology Mycology Serology Mycobacteriology Molecular diagnosis of infection Venereology/Sexually Transmitted Infections Adult Antiretroviral Treatment Antibiotic-resistance management Infection control
TRAINING PROGRAMS
Training of resident doctors:
The department is involved in the training of resident doctors (junior and senior registrars) from other clinical departments such as Internal medicine and Family medicine who undergo postings ranging from 2 weeks to 6 weeks in the department.
Training of Intern Medical Laboratory Scientists
The department is involved in the training of Medical laboratory scientist interns who must undergo the mandatory one-year internship program in a recognized training facility after completion of their undergraduate training.
Training of undergraduate Medical Laboratory Science students
The department trains undergraduate Medical laboratory science students who must undergo laboratory practical exposures during their undergraduate programs.
Training of Medical Laboratory technician students from the School of Health Technology The department also trains medical laboratory technician students from different schools of health technology who as part of their training must have practical laboratory exposure in the course of their training. They undergo postings ranging from 6 weeks to 24 weeks in the department.
RESEARCH AND CLINICAL TRIALS
Some of the current departmental research interest includes: Antimicrobial Resistant (AMR) patterns of isolates from different body specimen and identification of resistant genes. Pattern of Rifampicin-resistant mycobacterium tuberculosis in Ekiti State. Factors associated with healthcare-associated infections in Ekiti.
NEWS AND EVENT
1. A fully-equipped, purpose-built molecular laboratory was added to the department for the purpose of COVID-19 molecular diagnosis in 2021. All technical staff of the department was trained on numerous occasions both within and outside the hospital on this molecular diagnosis 2. The department is on the verge of commencing the PCR tests for viral load estimation of Hepatitis-B virus and detection of Human-Papilloma virus. 3. The preparation is in top gear for the commencement of residency training for doctors intending to specialize in Clinical Microbiology in the department.
FUTURE EXPANSION
1. To develop a fully automated medical microbiology and parasitology laboratory. 2. To create a full-fledge virology laboratory where most clinically important viruses can be diagnosed and isola 3. To establish a fully digitalized operation of the laboratory 4. To create a referral tuberculosis laboratory where culture and antibiotic sensitivity can be carried out for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. 5. To introduce the Matrix-assisted Laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) Mass spectrometry in laboratory diagnosis of microorganisms. 6. To create a medical microbiology research laboratory where researches can be conducted on various microbiological agents of infectious diseases including the emerging ones.
FACILITIES a. Structures
1. Bacteriology laboratory room 2. Parasitology laboratory room 3. A well-equipped, purpose-built molecular laboratory 4. Gene X-pert laboratory room 5. TB laboratory room 6. Sexually-transmitted Infection clinic
b. Equipment (Laboratory Rooms)
| Light microscope | 4 |
| Incubator | 4 |
| Automated Blood Culture Analyzer | 1 |
| Automated Semen Analyzer | 1 |
| Safety Cabinet | 1 |
| Hot-Air Oven | 1 |
| Autoclave | 2 |
| Fluorescent Microscope | 2 |
| Bucket Centrifuge | 2 |
| Digital Weighing Balance | 2 |
| Gene x-pert Machine | 1 |
| Hot Plate | 1 |
Equipment (Molecular Laboratory)
| PCR Machine | 2 |
| Glove Box | 1 |
| Class II Biosafety Cabinet | 1 |
| Refrigerated Centrifuge | 2 |
| PCR Workstation | 2 |
| Bucket Centrifuge | 2 |
| Microcentrifuge | 1 |
| PCR Gel Documentation System | 1 |
| Electrophoresis tank | 2 |
| Heat block | 2 |
| -80OC freezer | 1 |
| -40OC freezer | 1 |
| 20KVA solar-inverter system | 1 |
| Incubator | 1 |
| Autoclave | 1 |
| Computer set with printers | 2 |
| ELISA machine | 1 |
| Water purification system | 1 |
| Air purifier | 1 |
SERVICES OFFERED
- Microscopy, Culture and Sensitivity of bacteria pathogens from all bodily specimens.
- Gene X-pert diagnosis of TB and Rifampicin-resistant TB
- Microscopic detection of parasitic agents of diseases
- Microscopy and culture of fungi pathogens
- Serological detection of syphilis and rubella
- Antigen-detection test for Helicobacter pylori
- Antigen detection of SARS CoV-2 virus
- Molecular diagnosis of SARS CoV-2 virus
- Treatment of patients with sexually-transmitted infections
- Treatment of adult patients with HIV/AIDS.
- Management of cases of antibiotic-resistance Equipment validation and quality control. Appendix A: Name, specialty, brief profile, and pictures of medical team Appendix B: Pictures of facilities Appendix C: List of tests carried out in the department.