General project information

Project name

be.Prepared: Surveillance of infectious disease surveillance by the National Reference Centres for Human Microbiology

Project abbreviation

be.Prepared: NRC

Project code

HD0041

Brief project description

Since 2011, Sciensano's Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Department, which is responsible for monitoring infectious diseases, has been coordinating a network of human microbiology reference laboratories, known as National Reference Centres (NRCs).

Each NRC, made up of one or more laboratories, is designated as such for a pathogen or group of pathogens according to well-defined criteria as part of a procedure that is repeated at intervals of no more than 5 years. The Royal Decree of 9/2/2011 defines the legal and financial framework within which the NRCs operate and the tasks they must perform. The activities of the NRCs focus on 41 pathogens or groups of pathogens identified as priorities because of their needs in terms of diagnosis, quality of care and public health. The NRCs provide support to healthcare providers and epidemiologists by transmitting microbiological and epidemiological data to Sciensano once a year.

The role of the NRCs is to contribute to the confirmation and/or diagnosis of certain pathogens (rare or difficult to identify) in samples sent by peripheral laboratories and to characterise the strains referred (genotyping, antigen examination, study of antibiotic resistance and other tests). Strain characterisation is important for detecting the emergence of new pathogens and observing changes in virulence and the distribution of circulating strains. These data also help to assess the effectiveness of health policies such as vaccination and the efficacy of antibiotics. The NRCs are also required to provide support to laboratories for laboratory techniques and to the authorities for managing health threats.

Primary organization that oversees implementation of project

• Sciensano, service Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases

Partner organization participating in project

• Not applicable

Organization that commissioned this project

• Sciensano
• RIZIV-INAMI

Organization providing monetary or material support

• Sciensano
• RIZIV-INAMI
• European Commission

The project HERA-BE-WGS for the development of "be.Prepared" is granted under the EU4Health Programme (action EU4H-2022-DGA-MS-IBA-1) with the Grant Agreement no. 101113063 and under ECDC with Grant Agreement no. ECDC/GRANT/2021/002_ECD.12216. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, ECDC or HaDEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authorities can be held responsible for them.