ABSTRACT

The treatment and prevention of infectious diseases is unique. Symptomatic illness in infectious diseases is the result of the host response to invading microorganisms. In the treatment of most human diseases, clinicians administer drugs that bind to some receptor site that is part of the human host. However, in most infectious diseases, other than vaccines and immunological therapies, therapy is directed at the invading organism rather than the human host. Inhibition or killing of the microorganisms will aid the human immune system in eradicating the invading pathogens with a subsequent resolution in the signs and symptoms of the disease. We have learned that some antimicrobials also may have a direct effect in modulating the host immune system as well [1,2]. The ultimate goal, of course, is the cure of the patient’s signs and symptoms, and not merely the elimination of the pathogens. The microbiology laboratory provides information to clinicians that allows them to treat patients most appropriately. The microbiology laboratory interacts with clinicians in other important ways as well, including providing information related to infection control, educating clinicians and house staff, and participating in clinical research. The efficient functioning of the microbiology laboratory is dependent upon good communication between clinicians and their colleagues in the microbiology laboratory [3].