AMRHAI reference unit: reference and diagnostic services
AMRHAI (Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections) is the national reference unit for investigating antimicrobial resistance in healthcare-associated bacteria.
Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (AMRHAI) is part of UKHSA’s Bacteria Reference Department (BRD).
AMRHAI has 4 sections:
- Staphylococcus and Streptococcus Reference Section (SSRS)
- Opportunist Pathogens Section (OPPS)
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Mechanisms Service (ARMS)
- Bacterial Identification Service (BIDS)
AMRHAI services
AMRHAI provides national reference facilities for many healthcare-associated bacteria, including:
- Staphylococcus spp
- Streptococcus spp
- Enterococcus spp
- Klebsiella spp
- Enterobacter spp
- Serratia spp
- Pseudomonas spp
- Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
- Burkholderia spp (including cepacia complex and pseudomallei)
- Acinetobacter spp
- aerobic actinomycetes
- atypical, unknown, emerging bacteria
AMRHAI seeks to define outbreaks and identify transmission pathways using established and developmental phenotypic and genotypic methods to type isolates, to identify biomarkers associated with virulence, fitness host adaption and to determine their susceptibility to relevant antibiotics. Likely mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance are inferred by interpretive reading, and we offer molecular detection and confirmation of the genetic determinants of key resistances and monitor their dissemination.
AMRHAI also undertakes laboratory-based surveillance, advises on outbreak investigations, antimicrobial agents that may be appropriate for therapy, and on any public health risk. The unit also provides identification services for difficult to identify bacteria and information and advice on infection prevention and control issues.
BIDS (formerly MISU) provides specialist identification services for unknowns which include atypical, difficult to isolate or emerging bacterial pathogens detected in culture negative clinical samples and from isolates with no national reference facility.
AMRHAI undertakes commercially-sponsored evaluations of new antibiotics (in-vitro activity studies) and diagnostics and has an active research programme supported through competitively awarded grants.
For more information on AMRHAI services and contact details, refer to the BRD user manual.
AMRHAI guidance and forms
Bacteriology Reference Department: user manual
Healthcare pathogens request form – characterisation and resistance: single isolate – H2
Healthcare pathogens request form – characterisation and resistance: multiple isolates – H1
Staphylococcus and streptococcus reference service (multiple isolates) – H3
Staphylococcus and streptococcus reference service (single isolate) – H4
AMRHAI bacterial identification request form: single isolate or single clinical – M1
Referring bacterial isolates
Diagnostic laboratories in Scotland should refer all Gram-negative bacterial isolates requiring molecular screening for carbapenemase genes and/or minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination to the Scottish Satellite AMR Reference Laboratory in Glasgow.
Group A streptococcal isolates should be submitted to the Scottish Microbiology Reference Laboratory (SMiRL), Glasgow for typing.
Contact
AMRHAI
UK Health Security Agency
61 Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5EQ
Email amrhai@ukhsa.gov.uk
To email individuals use: firstname.surname@ukhsa.gov.uk
Telephone 020 8327 6511 / 7887
DX address DX address UKHSA Colindale VRD, DX 6530006
Updates to this page
Published 1 July 2014Last updated 31 July 2024 + show all updates
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Updated to reflect all changes in the unit.
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Added Staphylococcus capitis minimum data collection form.
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Updated wording and added 2 request forms.
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Added notification of service delivery changes made to PHE reference and specialist laboratories to provide critical support to the COVID-19 incident.
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Removed links to the Electronic Reporting System (ERS) enhanced surveillance website which is closing at the end of April 2019.
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Added note for bacterial isolates requiring molecular screening for carbapenemase genes.
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Added details of new sections, services and forms.
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First published.