Microbiology
Training in microbiology encompasses bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, virology, and clinical serology. Residents learn the latest principles and methods in isolating and identifying pathogenic organisms from cultures and direct antigen detection tests. They assist the physician in the diagnosis and management of patients with infectious diseases through laboratory consultations and clinical rounds.
During the residents' assignment in microbiology, they learn proper specimen collection and examination by traditional methods and by new techniques such as fluorescence microscopy, gas liquid chromatography, enzyme immunoassay, DNA probes, and recombinant protein technology. Responsibilities include evaluating the significance of organisms isolated from patient specimens in relationship to the clinical disease, learning principles in antibiotic susceptibility testing, and relating results to appropriate antibiotic therapy.
In addition, residents are given administrative responsibilities, participate in the teaching programs of the division, and are encouraged to investigate and implement new laboratory procedures and pursue investigations in fields of individual interest.
Research Emphasis: The research in this division is conducted collaboratively with the Department of Medicine. The spectrum of research activities extends from basic to applied microbiology, including the pathogenesis of viral and bacterial diseases, surveillance of hospital infections, and the development of microbiological diagnostic techniques using immunofluorescence and other immunological and molecular methods.
