From potential to practice: a UK national roadmap to implement pathogen whole-genome sequencing in infection prevention and control.

Whole-genome sequencing has substantially advanced the understanding of infection transmission but remains underused in everyday infection prevention and control. The UK pioneered genomic medicine through the 100 000 Genomes Project, tuberculosis surveillance, and foodborne disease programmes; yet, a sustainable framework for routine use of genomic medicine in infection prevention and control has not been realised. In June, 2025, the Genomics to Optimise Infection Prevention (GENOTIPE) Network convened clinicians, academics, public health leaders, and the industry to address this implementation gap. A central challenge is not sequencing capacity alone, but ascertaining when and where genomic information is actionable, and how this information can be delivered in a clinically useful and cost-effective way within operational timeframes. In this Personal View, we outline a national implementation roadmap that emphasises prioritised use-cases, coordinated delivery models, and embedded evaluation of clinical, economic, and system-wide impact. Progress will depend on linking targeted implementation with real-world evidence generation to support sustainable adoption across health-care systems.