Diagnostic Medical Microbiology Principles

Questions and Answers

What is the primary concern of diagnostic medical microbiology?

Etiologic diagnosis of infection

What laboratory procedures are used in the diagnosis of infectious diseases?

Morphologic identification of the agent in stains of specimens or sections of tissues

Detection of the agent in patient specimens by antigen testing or nucleic acid testing

Culture isolation and identification of the agent

All of the above (correct)

Clinical information is more important for diagnostic microbiology than for clinical chemistry or hematology.

True

What should the physician inform the laboratory staff of when requesting tests?

Tentative diagnosis, type of infection or infectious agent(s) suspected, and patient's identifying data Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important for physicians to know when and how to take specimens?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What should the clinician do after obtaining the proper specimens and informing the laboratory of the tentative clinical diagnosis?

Begin treatment with drugs aimed at the organism(s) thought to be responsible for the patient's illness Signup and view all the answers

Many pathogenic microorganisms grow slowly, and days or even weeks may elapse before they are isolated and identified.

True Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Principles of Diagnostic Medical Microbiology

Diagnostic medical microbiology focuses on diagnosing infections through various laboratory techniques.
Techniques for identifying infectious agents include morphologic identification via stains and microscopy (light and electron).
Pathogen detection methods involve antigen testing (e.g., latex agglutination, enzyme immunoassay) and nucleic acid testing (e.g., PCR, sequencing).
Culture isolation is crucial for agent identification, including susceptibility testing when necessary.

Importance of Clinical Information

Clinical context is essential for interpreting microbiology tests, more so than in clinical chemistry or hematology.
Clinicians should provide tentative diagnoses and appropriate clinical information when requesting laboratory tests.
Proper specimen labeling must include patient identification, clinical data, and laboratory requestor's contact details.

Specimen Quality and Timing

The accuracy of laboratory results hinges on specimen quality, collection technique, and transportation.
Microorganisms may have slow growth rates, often taking days or weeks to culture and identify; timely initiation of treatment is critical.
Physicians are encouraged to start empirical treatment while awaiting laboratory results, especially targeting suspected infectious agents.

Effective Communication

Interaction between healthcare providers and laboratory staff is vital for patient management based on evolving diagnostic results.
Continuous communication aids in re-evaluating diagnoses and adjusting treatment plans as necessary.

Description

This quiz covers the principles of diagnostic medical microbiology, including laboratory techniques for identifying infectious agents, the importance of clinical information, and specimen quality and timing.