Clinical Microbiology at UCCK received around 40 thousand samples within a year

Although it has not yet been 4 years since the establishment of the Clinical Microbiology Service at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo, the number of samples received that have undergone microbiological analysis in 2024 reaches 40 thousand, or nearly 30 thousand more than in 2021. While the priority for Clinical Microbiology is the strengthening of Molecular Diagnostics, to advance services for the benefit of clinics and patients.

Clinical Microbiology receives samples from hospitalized patients in all UCCK clinics every day.

The Acting Director of the Clinical Microbiology Service at UCCK, Greta Lila Azizi, in an interview with KosovaPress, says that since the establishment of this unit, year after year since 2021, the number of samples received for analysis has increased significantly.

She emphasizes that the work as a new service at UCCK began with three microbiologists and laboratory technicians, but with the expansion of the range of services over the years, the number of staff has more than doubled.

"Initially, we were only three microbiologists and three laboratory technicians. Today, we are 6 microbiologists and 11 laboratory technicians, where we carry out a team work of all that is required of us as microbiologists... During 2021, the number of samples was lower, it was the pandemic. There was a reduced number of samples. But, over the years, the number of samples received here has increased. During 2021, there were around 11 thousand samples. Then, chronologically, this has been increasing year by year. And now, finally, in 2024, we have reached 40 thousand samples that have been received at the Clinical Microbiology Service, in the laboratory. These are samples that have been subjected to microbiological analysis with conventional methods, microscopy, and serological ones, but also with molecular methods," emphasizes Lila Azizi.

Microbiology specialist Greta Lila Azizi says that in the first half of this year, Molecular Diagnostics is also expected to be strengthened. According to her, this service will significantly reduce the time for reporting the results of analysis from samples taken, KosovaPress reports.

"We will increase and strengthen Molecular Diagnostics. In addition to conventional diagnostics and those I mentioned, clinical microbiology must definitely have Molecular Diagnostics. This is because it advances services and is beneficial to clinics, patient samples, to work with molecular methods such as PCR, real-time PCR and others... I believe that during 2025, this first 6 months will see innovations, the introduction of new services in Clinical Microbiology... 14:25 Molecular Diagnostics aims at those methods such as PCR, real-time PCR, multiplex PCR aimed at detecting genetic material in the sample. The moment the sample is brought to the laboratory, various pathogens, whether viral or bacterial, can be worked on and detected. The time for reporting the result is greatly reduced compared to the conventional method and culture", emphasizes Lila Azizi.

For KosovaPress, microbiologist Greta Lila Azizi tells that a wide range of microbiological analyses are performed in the Clinical Microbiology service at UCCK.

She added that there is a wide variety of samples that undergo microbiological analysis.

"The Clinical Microbiology Service at UCCK performs a wide range of microbiological analyses. Every day, samples are received from hospitalized patients in all UCCK clinics... They are different, starting from blood cultures, longocerebrospinal cultures, then different skin and mucous membrane swabs, throat, nose, ear swabs, aspirates, broncho aspirates, various punctures. There is a large variety of samples that undergo microbiological analyses. Urine, feces samples, coproculture, are a considerable number of analyses that are processed", says Lila Azizi.

Among other things, Lila Azizi emphasizes that the establishment of the Clinical Microbiology Service has not been easy. According to her, this journey has been challenging, but she says that teamwork and the consolidation of the budget for reagents needed for testing samples have stabilized the work process.

The Clinical Microbiology Service at UCCK was established on March 18, 2021, after the Minister of Health approved the draft Decision on amendments to the UCCK Statute, following the acceptance of the request by the Governing Board of UCCK, on ​​February 8, 2021. /kp/