Clinical microbiology

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Clinical Microbiology

Clinical Microbiology (pronunciation: klin-i-kal, mi-kroh-bi-ol-uh-jee) is a branch of medical science that deals with the study of microorganisms, including their roles in human health and diseases.

Etymology

The term 'Clinical Microbiology' is derived from the Greek words 'klinikos', meaning 'bed', referring to the observation of patients, 'micros', meaning 'small', and 'biology', meaning 'the study of life'.

Definition

Clinical Microbiology is the study of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, which cause diseases in humans. It involves the identification of these pathogens, understanding their mechanisms of action, and determining their susceptibility to antibiotics and other drugs.

Related Terms

  • Microbiology: The study of microscopic organisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.
  • Pathogen: A bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease.
  • Antibiotics: Drugs that fight infections caused by bacteria.
  • Infectious Disease: Diseases caused by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites.

Importance

Clinical Microbiology plays a crucial role in patient care, public health, and the prevention of infectious diseases. It is involved in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infections, contributing to the overall management of patient health.

Techniques

Common techniques used in Clinical Microbiology include microscopy, culture methods, molecular diagnostics, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

See Also

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski