Offering an introduction to the essentials of diagnostic microbiology, this title helps you develop the problem-solving skills necessary for success in the clinical setting. It follows a 'building block' approach to microbiology that moves progressively from basic concepts to advanced understanding.

Bacterial cell structure, physiology, metabolism, and genetics --Host-parasite interaction -- The Laboratory role in infection control -- Control of microorganisms -- Performance improvement in the microbiology laboratory -- Specimen collection and processing -- Microscopic examination of materials from infected sites -- Use of colony morphology for the presumptive identification of microorganisms -- Biochemical identification of gram-negative bacteria -- Immunodiagnosis of infectious diseases -- Applications of molecular diagnostics -- Antimicrobial agent mechanisms of action and resistance -- Antimicrobial susceptibility testing -- Staphylococci -- Streptococcus, Enterococcus, and other catalase-negative, gram-positive cocci -- Aerobic gram-positive bacilli -- Neisseria species and Moraxella catarrhalis -- Haemophilus and other fastidious gram-negative bacilli -- Enterobacteriaceae -- Vibrio, Aeromonas, Plesiomonas, and Campylobacter species -- Nonfermenting and miscellaneous gram-negative bacilli -- Anaerobes of clinical importance -- The Spirochetes -- Chlamydia, Rickettsia, and similar organisms -- Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma -- Mycobacterium tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria -- Medically significant fungi -- Diagnostic parasitology -- Clinical virology -- Agents of bioterror and forensic microbiology -- Biofilms: architects of disease -- Upper and lower respiratory tract infections -- Skin and soft tissue infections -- Gastrointestinal infections and food poisoning -- Infections of the central nervous system -- Bacteremia and sepsis -- Urinary tract infections -- Genital infections and sexually transmitted infections -- Infections in special populations -- Zoonotic diseases -- Ocular infections.