title: The microbiology laboratory's role in life-threatening infections.
abstract: The microbiology laboratory's contribution to the care of patients who are critically ill is explored. The economic and epidemiologic impact of broad-spectrum antibiotic use is discussed, along with methodology of antimicrobial susceptibility testing and the potential value of an antibiogram. The clinical benefits of blood, sputum, urine, spinal fluid, and wound cultures are discussed, with an emphasis on interpretation of culture results. The significance of, and procedures for, proper specimen collection are emphasized throughout the article, and the ramifications of improper specimen collection are presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Missouri at Kansas City, School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Papasian
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kragel
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D003422:Critical Care; D006801:Humans; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital; D008828:Microbiological Techniques