Clinical Microbiology – 2025 review results

View the outcomes of the 2025 curriculum content review for Clinical Microbiology.

text
Programme Scientist Training Programme
Specialty Clinical Microbiology
Year of review 2025 – 2026
Curriculum Click link to access Clinical Microbiology curriculum
Specialty Lead Editor Rob Shorten

Current priority areas

text

Stakeholder feedback

Feedback collecting through the Curriculum Library survey collected between January 2024 and November 2025. All stakeholder feedback is presented verbatim.

Programme

  • Include more virology

S-CM-R1 Introduction to Clinical Microbiology in the Laboratory

  • no feedback received

S-CM-R2 Introduction to Clinical Microbiology in the Hospital and Community

Training activities

  • 6 – Too much reflective practice in the portfolio. May be worth doing alternative training activities as all the first year is purely reflection.

S-CM-R3 Introduction to Infection Prevention and Control

  • no feedback received

S-CM-R4 Introduction to Diagnostic Services and Laboratory Medicine

  • no feedback received

S-CM-S1 Techniques in Microbiology

  • no feedback received

S-CM-S2 Clinical Syndromes in Microbiology

  • no feedback received

S-CM-S3 Specialist Patient Groups in Microbiology

  • no feedback received

S-CM-S4 Infection Prevention and Control, and Public Health

  • no feedback received

Changes made

Module level changes

Change ID M1
Module code S-CM-R1
Module content OCE
Original
Change Add new: Communicate an urgent result from the lab to a clinical microbiologist
Change category Minor
Implementation cohort 2026

 

Change ID M2
Module code S-CM-R2
Module content OCE
Original
Change Add new:

  1. Under supervision, communicate a diagnostic microbiology result to a member of the patient’s clinical team.
  2. Convey requests for additional diagnostic tests from an MDT meeting/ward round to the microbiology laboratory.
Change category Minor
Implementation cohort 2026

 

Change ID M3
Module code S-CM-R2
Module content Training Activity
Original 10: Shadow a GP or another community-based healthcare professional
Change 10: Shadow a GP or another community-based healthcare professional and reflect on their role
Change category Minor
Implementation cohort 2026

 

Change ID M4
Module code S-CM-S1
Module content OCE
Original Provide advice on the management of a patient with difficile infection.
Change Provide advice on the management of a patient with C. difficile infection.
Change category Minor
Implementation cohort 2026

 

Change ID M5
Module code S-CM-S4
Module content OCE
Original Provide results to at a meeting reviewing a healthcare associated infection.
Change Provide results at a meeting reviewing a healthcare associated infection.
Change category Minor
Implementation cohort 2026

Programme level changes

  • no changes made
text

Periodic review

This specialty curriculum requires significant change beyond the scope of an annual review.

Responseno

text

Rationale

Please provide an overview of the rationale for why the proposed changes are needed or why changes were not needed, with reference to stakeholder feedback.

Response – no rationale provided by Lead Editor

I confirm I have reviewed the Reflective Practice Guidance for ETAs and DTAs and have made any changes necessary.

Specialty Lead Editor signature: Rob Shorten
Date: 15 December 2025

text

Change control - completed by the school

Programme structure

Change ID Programme structure maintained Comments
M1 Yes
M2 Yes
M3 Yes
M4 Yes

Completed by: Chris Fisher
Date: 19 December 2025

Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) mapping

  • No changes to learning outcomes. HCPC mapping maintained.

Completed by: Chris Fisher
Date: 19 December 2025

Last updated on 29th January 2026