Happy New Year and welcome to the first issue of Microbiology Australia for 2014. The focus of this month’s issue is the very important topic of hospital-acquired infections, guest edited by Lyn Gilbert (past ASM President), Jon Iredell (current President-elect) and John Merlino. Looking through the wonderful contributions they have made and also those they have secured from other experts in the field, this issue has the makings of becoming a reference text on the subject – and required reading for all who have an interest in infection control in a hospital environment. Happy reading!

As I have mentioned in previous Vertical Transmissions, the flexibility of the new Microbiology Australia in both print form and an online presence will allow us to more easily engage with the journal’s readers and to readily respond to suggestions for additional content or to provide an opportunity to comment on published content. One option we are currently discussing is a forum that will hopefully drive lively debate on topical issues both on the journal site itself as well as through our Facebook and LinkedIn presence. If you have any other ideas please forward your suggestions to our national office (admin@theasm.com.au).

As promised in my last Vertical Transmission, a proposal for changes to the society constitution that more accurately reflects the Divisional structure of our society has been posted on the ASM website. This proposal will be taken to the AGM to be held in conjunction with the annual meeting in Melbourne in July. We hope that ASM members will play an active role in developing these changes and we are calling for input by the end of May 2014. You can find a full description of the changes and the rationale behind them in documents posted on the website.

The annual meeting, to be held this year in Melbourne from 6–9 July is fast approaching. The invited international and national speakers are all in place and the developing program is now available for viewing at the meeting website (http://asmmeeting.theasm.org.au/). The exceptional group of speakers that the Program Committee has put together ensures that we will have a very exciting series of talks by leaders in their respective fields. While there are a plethora of smaller, specialist meetings now in play across Australia every year, the annual ASM meeting still offers the only opportunity to immerse yourself in cutting-edge science that covers the broad, cross-disciplinary field of microbiology. This year we are taking that concept to heart with a number of dedicated, cross-disciplinary Symposia and Workshops. So set aside these three days for this important networking opportunity for all microbiologists! Early bird registrations and abstract submissions (for oral presentation consideration) are due 4 April.