Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection, China International Exchange and Promotion Association for Medical and Healthcare (CPAM) was founded in June 2017. Recommended by Prof. Chen Wang (Academician of China Academy of Engineering, President of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences) and Prof. Qimin Zhan (Academician of China Academy of Engineering, President of Peking University Health Science Center), CPAM-CMI was initiated by Prof. Hui Wang (Peking University People’s Hospital), Prof. Bin Cao (China-Japan Friendship Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases) and Prof. Wenhong Zhang (Fudan University Huashan Hospital).

The diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases critically depend on results from clinical microbiology. Thus, those two fields are inseparable from each other. In fact, the combined development of clinical microbiology and infectious diseases has been regarded as the international academia consensus, such as the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), Asia-Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection (APSCMI). Unfortunately, Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases have been separated from each other for a long time in China. Most of Physicians are satisfied with empirical treatments, while clinical microbiologists do not know about the real needs in clinical practice. In addition, the anti-infection therapy in China is still developing at a low level in terms of duplication. CPAM-CMI provides a unique opportunity for domestic physicians, clinical microbiologists and their colleagues to be in line with international standards and to commit themselves to continuously promote the cross-integration and complementarity of the clinical microbiology and infection-related disciplines. Further, CPAM-CMI provides a unique platform to promote standardization and normalization of clinical microbiology laboratories, to improve the diagnostic practice in infectious diseases in primary care hospitals, to promote the rational use of antimicrobial agents and to provide opportunities for scientific managements.

 CPAM-CMI has received huge support by CPAM. The three CPAM-CMI co-founders are nationally and internationally acknowledged leaders in the relevant fields. The First CPAM-CMI Founding Ceremony and CPAM-CMI committee election meeting was held in Nov. 16, 2017 at the Kuntai International Hotel in Beijing. Mr. Jiageng Tan, the Deputy Secretary of CPAM, along with 131 clinical microbiologists and physicians from the field of infectious diseases attended the ceremony. Under the auspices of the Deputy Secretary, one of the CPAM-CMI co-founders, Prof. Hui Wang, introduced the preparation process of CPAM-CMI and the procedures for selection of CPAM-CMI members. CPAM-CMI has a total of 150 members. According to the Constitution of the CPAM, 46 permanent members were elected by secret ballot from all CPAM-CMI members. Prof. Hui Wang was elected as the Founding President of the CPAM-CMI Committee. Profs. Bin Cao, Wenhong Zhang, Xiaoling Ma, Baoli Zhu, Baiyi Chen, Jihong Hu and Yuan Lv were elected as Vice President of the CPAM-CMI Committee. Deputy Secretary of CPAM Prof. Jiageng Tan issued the appointments to the members of the CPAM-CMI Committee. CPAM-CMI Chair Prof. Hui Wang appointed Prof. Xiaotao Zhao as Secretary of CPAM-CMI, Prof. Minjun Chen as Advisory Consultant, and Prof. Yuxing Ni and Guiqiang Wang as Honorary President.

 CPAM-CMI will insist the principles of "insisting on originality, pursuing academic, advocating cooperation, focusing on generalization", the specific missions and future perspectives are:

 1. To lead the development of the field and to adhere to the diagnosis of pathogens as the core subject, closely contact with colleagues from departments of Infectious Diseases, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, Emergency Department, and other clinical departments, collaborate with colleagues from clinical pharmacy, Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, together with Bacteriology, Mycology, Virology, Parasitology and Tropical Disease Medicine, Medical Immunology, System Biology and other disciplines to continuously organize a variety of academic activities, formulate the relevant professional standards and guidelines to improve the diagnostic practice in infectious diseases in primary care hospitals, to promote the rational use of antimicrobial agents and to provide opportunities for scientific managements.

 2. CPAM-CMI will build communication and collaboration bridges among research institutes and universities (basic research), CDC (disease prevention and control), medical institutions (clinical microbiological testing and anti-infection treatments), pharmaceutical and diagnostic enterprises (anti-infection drugs and microbiological testing equipments and diagnostic reagents) to promote the transformation of innovative achievements with Chinese intellectual property, and ultimately promoting early achievements of Chinese localization on anti-infection agents and microbiological diagnostics-related products.

 3. On behalf of the Chinese Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases community, CPAM-CMI will participate in international academic conferences and other programs, to participate in formulation of international standards and guidelines, to play a role in Chinese “One Belt One Road” international cooperation and to give the Voice of China in International Forums on Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, and ultimately contribute to the great dream of building a community of common destiny for all mankind.