SummaryClinical Microbiologists − whether they are medical doctors or biologists with postgraduate qualification in microbiology and virology − work in healthcare settings undertaking a wide range of laboratory analysis, monitoring microbial cultures and checking new drugs effects. Managing the laboratories, they ensure that data are recorded accurately, in agreement to the most updated clinical and analytical guidelines.Records analysis and interpretation are only the final steps of a complex processing work, whose quality depends on the choice of the most appropriate test and tool (and technical expertise), in agreement with the samples processing priorities.The Microbiology Technician figure represents another vital and crucial player in any Clinical Laboratory. This important professional figure is directly responsible for proper handling of all testing samples, any mishandling being able to end in poor testing and consequent inaccurate results.Microbiology Technicians are involved in setting up all the daily needed laboratory tests for microbial examination and, even before, they have to recognize if the specimens are well suitable for analytical processing. As well, sometimes it is required for these professional personnel to know how properly to store samples and/or strains, for further (confirmatory, deeper, molecular and/or epidemiological) investigations. Most of the microbiological identification work is performed using high-tech equipment, and today's Technicians must be proficient in computer programs to track the complete diagnostic pathway that specimens are following and to find related orders for testing (2).Different unsolved questions are however emerging, in the present era of microarray-based multiplexing and nucleic-acid-based deep-sequencing methods, which allow simultaneous detection of pathogen nucleic acid and multiple antibiotic resistance (4).As an example, does the acquisition of the most advanced molecular tools always positively affect the quality of the results and the laboratory productivity?Could the availability of high throughput instrumentation overcome a wasting time pre-analytical phase?In which cases do a molecular tool represent a priority? It is well known that MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry allowed us to achieve a more rapid and accurate germ identification results, making costs and work time at the bench lighter (3). Consequently, coupling to MALDI-TOF MS a mecA PCR targeting, positive blood cultures can now be reported up to 1.4 days earlier than it was previously possible, significantly improving the prognosis of MRSA caused bacteraemia by the administration of anti-MRSA active drugs within 48 hours after positive sample detection.An accurate and rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases is essential for appropriate antimicrobial use, but when will we be ready to discard in vitro bacterial growing tests?Despite the availability of molecular systems detecting antimicrobial resistance determinants (e.g. Extended Spectrum β-lactamases and/or carbapenemases genes), we cannot y...
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.