(4) 2nd Department of Bacteriology

• National Reference Laboratory for Identification of Dangerous Pathogens
  Head: Dr. Mária Herpay, Head of Department
  According to an international tender, in addition to the available identification methods the so-called combinatorial PCR method for the detection of Brucella strains was adapted that supports the simple, reliable detection of B. abortus, B. melitensis, B. canis and B. abortus, B. melitensis, B. canis strains in common space of reaction.
  The Laboratory performs the verification testing of dangerous bacterial pathogens with an activity sphere covering the whole country. The Laboratory has participated in the international collaborative study organized within the EQADEBA tender. For the fulfilment of task, methodological developments and teaching activity have been performed. Within the laboratory collaboration, including the Preparedness Team and the Strain Collection in NCE, experimental tests are performed also in the fields of inactivation dangerous bacterial pathogens and the decontamination of laboratory background. Her duty is to participate in the elaboration of biosecurity and biosafety guidelines. Detection of pathogen from environmental samples is performed also within the frame of laboratory preparedness.
• National Reference Laboratory for Bacterial Zoonoses
  Head: Dr. Zsuzsa Kienle, Specialist
  The Laboratory has participated in the international collaborative study organized within the frame of EQADEBA tender. Priority task is to perform the immune serological testing of Francisella tularensis and Brucella spp. bacteria, and she has participated in the development of molecular methods.
• National Reference Laboratory for the Identification of Aerob Bacteria Causing Enteral Diseases
  Head: Dr. Mária Herpay, Head of Department
  The verification testing of enteral pathogens has been performed with a national scope of activity. Methodological developments mainly serological and molecular ones have been done, and with its activity, the level of Hungarian enteral diagnostics has been represented in the international collaborative studies organized by the ECDC (in the fields of Salmonella sero-typing and antibiotic sensitivity, and of the E.coli sero-typing and patho-group identification).
• STD Laboratory
  Head: Dr. Eszter Balla, Specialist
  The Laboratory has participated in the collaborative studies, methodological development and further trainings organized by the ECDC.
  National Legionella Reference Laboratory (and Bordetella Laboratory)
  Head: Csaba Bognár and Ferencziné Paluska Ildikó, Microbiologists
  Participation in the collaborative studies and further trainings organized by the ECDC, and the Head of Laboratory represents the professional field in national and international level.

Summary of the activities of the National Center for Epidemiology in 2010

International relations

Collaboration with international institutes

Participation in international working committees