The Molecular Epidemiology Unit was established in May 2010 at UCT/NHLS, Groote Schuur. This unit is a satellite to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) of the NHLS. The Divisions of Medical Microbiology and Medical Virology (UCT/NHLS) are jointly responsible for the functioning of the unit and the unit is jointly headed by Professors Mark Nicol and Anna-Lise Williamson. The unit complements the functions of the NICD and acts as an affiliate of the NICD. The unit plans to build on the skills and knowledge of the university departments and of the diagnostic laboratory at Groote Schuur Hospital (which serves Red Cross Children's Hospital, Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Victoria Hospital and False Bay Hospital in addition to Groote Schuur Hospital). Collaboration with other NICD units has commenced with the placement of a FELTP trainee. While the unit is still in the early stages of developing protocols, the knowledge generated through its work will in future inform and assist the fight against hospital acquired infections.
The unit has the following focus areas:
- Investigation of outbreaks of hospital-based infection, both viral and bacterial, with a focus on the coastal region, in collaboration with the Epidemiology and Outbreak Response Unit of the NICD
- Improving our understanding of the local epidemiology of multi-resistant bacterial pathogens, as part of a national collaborative network
- Tracking and identification of emerging pathogens in the coastal region, in collaboration with the relevant central NICD units
- Managing the activities of the WHO human papillomavirus Labnet laboratory for the Africa region.
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