Insight Webinar with IPC Partners - Genomic surveillance for IPC: principles and practicalities
Aired on 04 February 2026
This Insight Webinar hosted by IPC Partners in partnership with the Infection Prevention Society (IPS) and the Healthcare Infection Society (HIS) will focus on genomic surveillance and IPC. Join us for an insightful exploration of how genomic technologies can strengthen IPC programmes and improve patient safety.
Speaker: Dr Alex Sundermann, a leading researcher from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).
Convenors: Dr. Jon Otter & Dr Phil Norville.
What This Webinar Covers
Dr. Sundermann has been at the forefront of bringing whole‑genome sequencing (WGS) into real‑world IPC practice. In this webinar, he shares:
- How genomic surveillance has evolved in the last five years
- The shift from reactive outbreak investigation to proactive, real‑time surveillance
- Evidence from UPMC’s multi‑year sequencing programme, including o outbreaks missed by routine IPC methods, instances where genomics ruled out suspected outbreaks, major transmission routes identified (e.g., contaminated endoscopes, ventilator filters, contrast practices), and cost‑effectiveness findings, including ~$700k annual net savings
- Practical steps for implementing genomic surveillance in your own organisation
- Barriers to adoption, including bioinformatics expertise, funding, and the need for professional society guidance
- Future directions for hospital and national‑level genomic networks
- Why Genomic Surveillance Matters WGS is no longer a research luxury—costs have fallen dramatically, workflows are faster, and evidence shows it can:
- Identify outbreaks earlier
- Prevent unnecessary IPC responses
- Provide clarity in complex epidemiology
- Detect cross‑facility and community transmission
- Support targeted IPC interventions that save lives and reduce cost
Topics Discussed:
- Reactive vs proactive (surveillance) sequencing
- Genomics for MRSA, VRE, Pseudomonas, C. difficile and more
- Practical turnaround times and lab workflows
- Integrating genomics into IPC teams
- Ethical, legal and regulatory considerations
- How to pitch genomic surveillance to leadership
- Insights from global programmes (US, UK, Denmark, Australia)
About This Webinar Series:
This is the second in a series of 11 IPC Insight Webinars running throughout 2026. All sessions are CPD‑accredited by the Royal College of Pathologists and aim to provide concise expert overviews, stimulate discussion and build a global community of infection prevention enthusiasts. You can see the programme of webinars and their Journal Club cousins here: https://ipcpartners.org/learn-with-us/