Dr David Farren is a consultant in Medical Microbiology and Infection Control Doctor based in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. The Trust covers a population of over 450 000 people over a wide geographical area, including the only inhabited island off the north coast of Northern Ireland. He chairs the Microbiology and Virology Specialty Forum of the NI Pathology Network, sits on the CMO’s Strategic Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated infection group and the Northern Ireland AMR Improvement Board.
His professional interests include antimicrobial resistance/stewardship, infection prevention and control, and the use of novel technologies in these areas. He works with the regional Medicines Optimisation and Innovation Centre leading on projects relating to infection. Previous research has been into the use of novel biocides in the prevention of infection risk within the hospital environment and the use of various strategies to reduce antimicrobial resistance through control of usage, both through cycling of agents and by defining thresholds of usage as part of the Thresholds study group.