Laboratory Procedures In Clinical Microbiology

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.

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.

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 irrelevant 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 !is efficiently and accurately as possible. It is also essential in the clinical laboratory to determine, on the basis of the kind of specimen being examined, which microorganisms are clinically relevant and require isolation and identifica tion and which should either be excluded selectively or simply regarded as indigenous Hora and, therefore, not specifically identified. Cost and time limit a laboratory's resources, and priorities must be established for handling the workload. The procedures described in this manual are those selected by our staff for use in the clinical laboratory on the basis of clinical relevance, accuracy, reproducibility, and efficiency. ' Alternative procedures, when considered equivalent on the basis of personal or published experience, have been in cluded where appropriate.

Manual of Clinical Microbiology Twelfth Edition Revised by a collaborative, international, interdisciplinary team of editors and authors, this edition includes the latest applications of genomics and proteomics and is filled with current findings regarding infectious agents, leading-edge diagnostic methods, laboratory practices, and safety guidelines. This edition also features three new chapters on accreditation, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, and human herpesvirus 8. This seminal reference of microbiology continues to set the standard for state-of-the-science laboratory practice as the most authoritative reference in the field of microbiology.

The 2nd edition of this publication updates the various guidelines produced by the World Health Organization on the sampling of specimens for laboratory investigation, identification of bacteria and the testing of antibiotic resistance, focusing on quality control and assessment procedures to be followed rather than on basic techniques of microscopy and staining. The publication is split into two parts: part one deals with bacteriological investigations regarding blood, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, stools, upper and lower respiratory tract infections, sexually transmitted diseases, purulent exudates, wounds and absesses, anaerobic bacteriology, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and serological tests; and part two considers key pathogens, media and diagnostic reagents.

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.

Laboratory Practices in Microbiology provides updated insights on methods of isolation and cultivation, morphology of microorganisms, the determination of biochemical activities of microorganisms, and physical and chemical effects on microorganisms. Sections cover methods of preparation of media and their sterilization, microorganisms in environment, aseptic techniques, pure culture techniques, preservation of cultures, morphological characteristics of microorganisms, wet-mount and hanging-drop techniques, different staining techniques, cultural and biochemical characteristics of bacteria, antimicrobial effects of agents on microorganisms, hand scrubbing in the removal of microorganisms, characteristics of fungi, uses of bacteriophages in different applications, and more. Applications are designed to be common, complete with equipment, minimal expense and quick to the markets. Images are added to applications, helping readers better follow the expressions and make them more understandable. This is an essential book for students and researchers in microbiology, the health sciences, food engineering and technology, and medicine, as well as anyone working in a laboratory setting with microorganisms. Gives complete explanations for all steps in experiments, thus helping readers easily understand experimental procedures Includes certain subjects that tend to be disregarded in other microbiology laboratory books, including microorganisms in the environment, pure culture methods, wet-mount and hanging drop methods, biochemical characteristics of microorganisms, osmotic pressure effects on microorganisms, antiseptic and disinfectants effects on microorganisms, and more Provides groupings and characterizations of microorganisms Functions as a representative reference book for the field of microbiology in the laboratory

A collaborative effort of 150+ clinical microbiologists, medical laboratory technologists, and laboratory supervisors. • Provides step-by-step protocols and descriptions to enable clinical microbiologists and laboratory staff personnel to 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. • Emphasizes areas such as molecular approaches, bioterrorism, safety, and epidemiology/infection control in medical facilities. • Includes procedures that are formatted to adhere to the GP02-5A (2006) document of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards/Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (NCCLS/CLSI).

Provides a concise approach to the performance of laboratory analyses aimed at identifying the etiological agents of infectious diseases. Format allows reader to follow a specimen through all of the steps from proper collection to a final report issued to the clinician.