Diagnostic Microbiology Innovations
Diagnostic medical
microbiology cares with the etiologic diagnosis of infection. Laboratory procedures utilized in the diagnosis of communicable disease in humans include the following: • Morphological identification of the agent in stains of specimens or sections of
tissues (light and electron microscopy). • Detection of the agent in patient specimens by antigen testing (latex agglutination, enzyme immunoassay) or macromolecule testing (nucleic acid hybridization, polymerase chain reaction [PCR], sequencing). • Culture isolation and identification of the agent. Susceptibility testing of the agent by culture or macromolecule methods, where appropriate. • Demonstration of meaningful antibody or cell-mediated immune responses to an infective agent. Infections could also be caused by bacteria (including mycobacteria, chlamydiae, mycoplasmas, and rickettsiae), viruses, fungi, or parasites.
Infection could also be endogenous or exogenous. In endogenous infections, the
microorganism (usually a bacterium) may be a component of the patientaposis indigenous flora. Endogenous infections can occur when the
microorganism is aspirated from the upper to the lower tract or when it penetrates the skin or mucosal barrier as a results of
trauma or surgery. In contrast, in exogenous infections, the
microorganism is acquired from the
environment (e.g., from soil or water) or from another person or an animal. Although it's important to determine the explanation for an infection, the medical diagnosis is predicated on a careful history, physical examination, and appropriate radiographic and laboratory studies, including the choice of appropriate specimens for microbiologic examination.
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