The 3rd Clinical Microbiology Summit Forum and the 17th Training Course on “New Technologies and Recent Advances in the Pathogen Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases,” co-hosted by the Antibiotics Research Institute of Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, and the editorial board of the Chinese Journal of Anti-Infective Chemotherapy, were held in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, from April 10 to April 12, 2015.

 
At this year’s summit, distinguished experts were invited, including Director Hu Jihong of the Clinical Laboratory Center of the Ministry of Health; Professors Zhu Demei, Zhang Qing, Wang Minggui, and Hu Fupin from the Antibiotics Research Institute of Huashan Hospital, Fudan University; Professor Ni Yuxing of Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Professors Zhang Xiuzhen and Hu Yunjian of Peking Hospital; Professors Wang He and Yang Qiwen of Peking Union Medical College Hospital; Professor Chen Zhixing of West China Medical University; Professor Shen Jilu of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University; Professor Sun Ziyong of Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Professor Chen Yu of Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University; Professor Yu Yunsong of the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University; Professor Shi Yi of the General Hospital of the Nanjing Military Region; and Director Wei Lianhua of Gansu Provincial People’s Hospital. The participants engaged in lively discussions centered on the latest CLSI guidelines (2015), covering such topics as recent advances in the etiological diagnosis of infectious diseases; the current status of bacterial resistance in China and laboratory testing for clinically significant resistant pathogens; communication requirements between clinical microbiology laboratories and clinicians under the Ministry of Health’s special campaign on the rational use of antimicrobial agents; the isolation, culture, identification, and susceptibility testing of fungi; the rational use of antimicrobial agents and the relationship between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; the application of molecular biology techniques in clinical microbiology laboratories; and the accreditation requirements of ISO 15189. The summit was a resounding success.

Leading experts in clinical microbiology practice and research from across China gathered in Zhuhai, turning this “Pearl of the South China Sea” into the focal point of recent attention in the field. The success of this forum has strengthened Zhuhai’s capacity to host and welcome major conferences, while enhancing its international profile. We look forward to seeing more high‑level academic conferences continue to be held in Zhuhai.