Medical Microbiology
Medical microbiology also known as clinical microbiology, is a subdisciline of microbiology that is applied to medicine. It deals with the study of microorganisms ( bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites & prions) capable of infecting and causing diseases in humans. At the same time, this branch of medical science concerned with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. In addition, this field of science studies various clinical applications of microbes for the improvement of human health. As with other specialties in medicine, the evolution of medical microbiology is essentially a response to clinical needs. At its core is the study of the pathogenesis and epidemiology of these microorganisms, and its practical applications lie in the form of diagnostic and therapeutic guidance – intrinsically a supportive role in clinical practice.
Highlights:
- The scope in this field is immense due to the involvement of microbiology in many fields like medicine, pharmacy, diary, industry, clinical research, water industry, agriculture, chemical technology and nanotechnology.
- The study of microbiology contributes greatly to the understanding of life through enhancements and intervention of microorganisms. There is an increase in demand for microbiologists globally.
- Microbiology is one of the largest and most complex of the biological sciences as it deals with many diverse biological disciplines.
- Medical microbiologists often serve as consultants for physicians, providing identification of pathogens and suggesting treatment options. Other tasks may include the identification of potential health risks to the community or monitoring the evolution of potentially virulent or resistant strains of microbes, educating the community and assisting in the design of health practices.
- A medical microbiologist studies the characteristics of pathogens, their modes of transmission, mechanisms of infection and growth & by using this information, a treatment can be devised accordingly.