Clinical Laboratory Microbiology

'Clinical Microbiology' presents highly detailed technical information and real-life case studies that will help learners envision themselves as members of the health care team, providing the laboratory services specific to microbiology that assist in patient care.

A modern, evaluative, and integrative approach to diagnostic microbiology encouraging problem-solving in the clinical laboratory context through the use of examples to illustrate clinical and diagnostic issues Clinical Microbiology for Diagnostic Laboratory Scientists is designed to encourage readers to develop a way of thinking that can be applied to any diagnostic scenario in microbiology. Through consideration of a selected range of infections caused by pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and helminths, the book encourages readers to explore connections between the available information about clinical symptoms, pathogenesis of infections, and the approaches used in laboratory diagnosis, in order to develop new insights. The book begins with an introductory chapter that outlines the scope of clinical diagnostic microbiology and the key areas for the laboratory scientist to be aware of. The subsequent six chapters review a type of infection in depth, using particular pathogenic microorganisms to illustrate salient points. At the end of each chapter there are three exercises related to management of a diagnostic service and assessing the suitability of test methods to specific contexts. There are no right or wrong answers to these, but the reader can discuss them with their laboratory colleagues or university tutor. Makes extensive use of published research in the form of journal articles, publically available epidemiological data, professional guidelines, and specialist websites Stimulates the reader in critical appraisal of published evidence and encourages problem-solving in the laboratory Outlines the scope of clinical diagnostic microbiology and the key areas for the laboratory scientist to be aware of Considers topics relevant to professional scientists working in the area of diagnostic microbiology Clinical Microbiology for Diagnostic Laboratory Scientists is ideal for post graduate scientists intending to pursue careers in diagnostic clinical microbiology and for biomedical scientists, clinical scientists, and full time students studying for upper level qualifications in biomedical science, microbiology, or virology.

Although there are a number of comprehensive books in clinical micro biology, there remains a need for a manual that can be used in the clinical laboratory to guide the daily performance of its work. Most of the existing publications provide detailed and precise information, for example, by which a microorganism can be characterized and identified beyond any doubt; however, the number of tests involved in this process exceeds the capabilities and resources of most clinical laboratories and are irrele vant for patient care. It is, therefore, necessary in any clinical laboratory to extract from reference manuals, textbooks, and journals those tests and procedures that are to be used to complete the daily workload as efficiently and accurately as possible. It is also essential in the clinical laboratory to determine, on the basis of the kind of specimen being exam ined, which microorganisms are clinically relevant and require isolation and identification and which should either be excluded selectively or simply regarded as indigenous flora and, therefore, not specifically identi fied. Cost and time limit a laboratory's resources, and priorities must be established for handling the workload. The procedures described in the second edition of this manual are those selected by our staff for use in the clinical laboratory on the basis of clinic~l relevance, accuracy, reproducibility, and efficiency. Alternative procedures, when considered equivalent on the basis of personal or pub lished experience, have been included where appropriate.

In response to the ever-changing needs and responsibilities of the clinical microbiology field, Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook, Fourth Edition has been extensively reviewed and updated to present the most prominent procedures in use today. The Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook provides step-by-step protocols and descriptions that allow clinical microbiologists and laboratory staff personnel to confidently and accurately perform all analyses, including appropriate quality control recommendations, from the receipt of the specimen through processing, testing, interpretation, presentation of the final report, and subsequent consultation.

Not another textbook, but a valuable tool for doctors and microbiologists wanting to know how to set up a PCR diagnostic microbiology laboratory according to current regulatory standards and perform assays supplied with patient clinical diagnostic criteria and easy to follow protocols. Whether laboratories are using commercial kits or in-house methods developed in their own laboratories or adopted from published methods, all clinical microbiology laboratories need to be able to understand, critically evaluate, perform and interpret these tests according to rigorous and clinically appropriate standards and international guidelines. The cost and effort of development and evaluation of in-house tests is considerable and many laboratories do not have the resources to do so. This compendium is a vehicle to improve and maintain the clinical relevance and high quality of diagnostic PCR. It is a unique collection of; guidelines for PCR laboratory set up and quality control, test selection criteria, methods and detailed step by step protocols for a diagnostic assays in the field of molecular microbiology. The structure of the book provides the PCR fundamentals and describes the clinical aspects and diagnosis of infectious disease. This is followed by protocols divided into; bacteria, virus, fungi and parasites, and susceptibility screens. The inclusion of medical criteria and interpretation adds value to the compendium and benefits clinicians, scientists, researchers and students of clinical diagnostic microbiology

This issue of Clinics in Laboratory Medicine, guest edited by Drs. Nicole D. Pecora and Matthew Pettengill, will cover Current Issues in Clinical Microbiology. This issue is one of four selected each year by our Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Milenko Jovan Tanasijevic. Topics discussed in this issue will include: Update in Diagnostics of Bloodstream Infections, Panels and Syndromic Testing in Clinical Microbiology, Lab Consolidation and Centralization, Update in Susceptibility Testing: Phenotypic and Genotypic Methods, Genomics in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Automation in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Coronavirus Detection in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory: Are We Ready for Identifying and Diagnosing a Novel Strain?, Update on Biosafety and Emerging Infections for the Clinical Microbiology Lab, Update in Clinical Mycology, Point of Care Testing in Microbiology, Pediatric Diagnostic Microbiology, Antimicrobial Stewardship: What the Clinical Laboratory Needs to Know, Fellowship Training for the Future Clinical Microbiology Laboratory Director, Update in Diagnostics/Susceptibility of Mycobacterial Diseases, Role of the Clinical Microbiology Lab in One Health, Update in Infectious Disease Diagnosis in Surgical Pathology, and more.

A Guide to Specimen Management in Clinical Microbiology is the classic reference that addresses and meets the needs of everyone in the "total testing process" circle. It provides complete, concise information on the unique needs of the microbiology laboratory regarding specimen management and is the only single source for the specimen management policies required for laboratory results that are accurate, significant, and clinically relevant. Medical, nursing, and medical technology students, practicing physicians, private practice offices, clinical laboratories, and public health laboratories can turn to this valuable resource to answer their questions on issues such as the correct procedures of specimen selection, collection, transport, and storage in the clinical microbiology laboratory, the rationale associated with the specimen requirements, and proper communication between the lab and its clients.

"Clinical Microbiology for Diagnostic Laboratory Scientists is designed to encourage the reader to take a modern, evaluative and integrative approach to diagnostic microbiology and to develop a way of thinking that can be applied to any diagnostic scenario. Through consideration of a selected range of infections caused by pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa and helminths, the book encourages readers to explore connections between the available information about clinical symptoms, pathogenesis of infections and the approaches used in laboratory diagnosis, in order to develop new insights. There is an introductory chapter, which outlines the scope of clinical diagnostic microbiology and the key areas for the laboratory scientist to be aware of. In the subsequent six chapters, a type of infection is reviewed in depth, using particular pathogenic microorganisms to illustrate salient points. At the end of each chapter there are three exercises related to management of a diagnostic service and assessing the suitability of test methods to specific contexts. There are no right or wrong answers to these, but the reader can discuss them with their laboratory colleagues or university tutor. Clinical Microbiology for Diagnostic Laboratory Scientists will stimulate the reader in critical appraisal of published evidence and encourage problem-solving in the clinical laboratory context, through the use of examples to illustrate clinical and diagnostic issues. The book makes extensive use of published research in the form of journal articles, publically available epidemiological data, professional guidelines and specialist websites. It therefore considers topics which are relevant to professional scientists working in the area of diagnostic microbiology"--