Microbiology Laboratory: An Unseen Battlefield

Infectious diseases are far from being defeated. However, the advances in medical microbiology have given a new perspective that has transformed the diagnosis, prevention and cure of infections. Microbiology scientists have made key contributions to improving public health and increasing life expectancy.

Microbiology laboratories are the first lines of defence for detection of new antimicrobial resistance, outbreaks and possible bioterrorism events. However, this discipline faces many challenges. First, it demands imagination because microbes are generally hidden from our senses. The lack of clinical microbiology services and expertise located far from the patient and their physician made managing infectious disease threats difficult.

Now, time has changed. Healthcare management is prioritizing the upgrade of the microbiology laboratory to the highest standards in order to achieve the best quality laboratory results, the quickest diagnosis, the most appropriate treatment, effective communication, infection control, and antimicrobial stewardship programs. The ultimate aim of microbiology laboratories should be continuous vigilance for the control of future pandemics and maintaining high-quality clinical microbiology laboratories on the site of the institution for managing issues of emerging infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance by providing good patient care outcomes. Let us see in brief the roles of microbiology laboratories and medical microbiologists.

References

1. Smilja Kalenic. The Role of the Microbiology Laboratory. IFIC Basic Concepts of Infection Control, 3rd edition, 2016.

2. R. Canton. Role of the microbiology laboratory in infectious disease surveillance, alert and response. Clin Microbiol Infect 2005; 11 (Suppl. 1): 3–8.

3. Kalenić et al. The role of microbiology laboratory in healthcare-associated infection prevention. Int J Infect Control 2009; v5: i2.