Microbial Pathogenesis & Infectious Diseases

Clinical Microbiology

Clinical microbiology is a discipline that comprehends a broad range of testing methodologies and it is complex in terms of organisms and methods used to isolate and identify them. Although significant improvements in testing methodologies have been made, clinical microbiology remnants heavily reliant on culture-based methods and phenotypic methods for identification of culture organisms. The clinical microbiology laboratory also plays a critical role in diagnosis and management of patients with lower respiratory tract infections. By providing pathogen detection and identification and susceptibility testing the laboratory delivers the source of optimal empirical antimicrobial therapy and individually tailored regimens.