The Microbiology service is divided into four laboratories, three of which are located in the hospitals themselves (Hospital Universitario Mutua de Terrassa, Hospital Universitario Consorcio Sanitario de Terrassa and Fundación San Juan de Dios de Martorell) and a central reference laboratory in Viladecavalls.

The hospital laboratories carry out emergency microbiology (both bacteriology and molecular) and process samples from admitted patients. Studies of healthcare-related infections, environmental controls and colonisation of multi-resistant microorganisms are also carried out. The laboratory also participates in different working groups and hospital committees, and its work is essential in programmes to optimise antibiotic use (PROA).

The central reference laboratory is located in Viladecavalls. It is the laboratory where all determinations from primary care are centralised. It consists of the following areas:

Areas of knowledge

General bacteriology: involves processing clinical samples, identifying and testing antibiotic sensitivity of significant bacterial isolates. The BD Kiestra™ Total Lab Automation (TLA) system is used to automate the bacteriological seeding of all types of samples. The system also digitises the reading of cultures using the BD Synapsys™ system. biochemical tests are also carried out.
Mycoses: study of the main superficial mycoses by conventional culture and molecular study (multiplex real-time PCR).
Mycobacteria: diagnosis of tuberculosis and non-tuberculosis mycobacteria. Microscopy of specific stains for acid-fast bacilli, identification of mycobacteria by mass spectrometry and study of phenotypic and genotypic antibiotic sensitivity of first-line tuberculostatics, as well as molecular study of second-line resistances, automated system for liquid culture and MGIT™ mycobacterial sensitivity tests.
Parasitology: diagnosis of imported and autochthonous parasitosis by optical microscopy, immunochromatography and molecular techniques.
Molecular epidemiology and study of bacterial resistance: mechanisms by phenotypic, genotypic and sequencing methods.
Microbiological diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections: bacteriological and molecular diagnosis of microorganisms that cause sexually transmitted infections and other infectious processes of the genital tract. High sample throughput routine with automated pre-analytics followed by the Seegene STARlet-AIOS™ system for molecular diagnostics. Epidemiology (serotypes, sensitivity patterns) and contact with epidemiological surveillance and public health services.
Infectious serology: serological testing to diagnose infectious diseases and determine immune response. Use of manual and automated methods for the detection of antigens and antibodies: highly specific chemiluminescence techniques (VirClia® Lotus), technology based on the principles of ELFA technology (VIDAS® 3), Western blot, IFI (fluorescence microscopy) and IGRA (T- (T-SPOT and quantiferon).
Molecular microbiology: Detection of other pathogens by various molecular techniques, both multiplexed and single. Syndromic diagnosis of viral infections of the respiratory tract, central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. Study of congenital infections. Monitoring of infections in transplant recipients and immunocompromised patients. Viral load diagnosis of HIV and hepatitis.

Microbiology Images