Tutorial Topics in Infection for the Combined Infection Training Programme

Microbiology and virology laboratories provide a diagnostic service that supports the management of patients under the care of front-line clinicians. Despite the significant overlap, laboratory expertise and clinical patient management are traditionally viewed as independent entities. Trainees in the infection disciplines of microbiology, virology, infectious diseases, and tropical medicine have until recently received separate, and as a result, limited training.

To address this problem, the UK replaced the FRCPath Part 1 examination for infectious disease trainees with a combined infection training (CIT) curriculum in 2015. Based on the idea of integration and collaboration within the field, CIT links laboratory expertise to clinical patient management.

Tutorial Topics in Infection for the Combined Infection Training Programme is the first book covering the complete CIT curriculum. Following the format of the CIT certificate examination, each chapter ends with three single best answer multiple choice questions accompanied by in-depth discussions. This extensive content helps students appreciate the breadth of knowledge required, emphasises how the different aspects of the field are related, and is an essential tool for those preparing for the CIT certificate examination.

Written by a multi-disciplinary team of medical microbiologists, virologists, infectious disease physicians, clinical scientists, biomedical scientists, public health specialists, HIV clinicians, and infection control nurses, this well-illustrated and easy to use book offers a unique insight into infectious diseases. It is the perfect primer for further study, a starting point for medical students and professionals wishing to learn more about the different topics within the infection specialty, and ideal for biomedical scientists looking to broaden their clinical understanding of the field beyond the diagnostic test.

Cheuk Yan William Tong, Consultant in Clinical Virology, Department of Infection, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK,Caryn Rosmarin, Consultant in Medical Microbiology, Department of Infection, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK,Armine Sefton, Emerita Professor, Barts Health NHS Trust and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK

Dr William Tong was initially trained in paediatrics before he took up the specialty of Virology. He received virology trainings in Hong Kong, London and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Having worked at Guy's and St. Thomas', and Barts Health NHS Trust, he is currently based at the Royal London Hospital at Whitechapel as clinical lead for the Division of Infection. He has a wide range of interests including viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, HIV, picornaviruses and novel diagnostics, and is the chair of the virology examination panel of the Royal College of Pathologists.

Dr Caryn Rosmarin worked in Emergency Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology and Infectious Disease in South Africa for several years before entering Microbiology. She trained and qualified in Clinical Microbiology both in London and Johannesburg. She is the postgraduate training lead for north-east London and an examiner for the Royal college of Pathologists. She has a wide range of interests including infection control, surgical microbiology, musculoskeletal, vascular and neurosurgical infections, diabetic foot infections, and education.


Armine Sefton trained in general medicine and infectious disease before entering microbiology. In 2003 she became Professor of Medical Microbiology at Barts and the London and remained there until she retired from full-time practice in 2015. Subsequently she returned to work part- time at her local hospital, Princess Alexandra, Harlow. She was course director of the MSc in Clinical Microbiology at Barts and the London for over 20 years. She was an examiner in microbiology for the Royal college of Pathologists, and the chair of their microbiology examination panel from 2008-2012