What does the future hold for clinical microbiology?
In the past decade, clinical microbiology laboratories have undergone important changes with the introduction of molecular biology techniques and laboratory automation. In the future, there will be a need for more rapid diagnoses, increased standardization of testing and greater adaptability to cope with new threats from infectious microorganisms, such as agents of bioterrorism and emerging pathogens. The combination of the new tools that are now being developed in research laboratories, the general reorganization of clinical laboratories and improved communication between physicians and clinical microbiologists should lead to profound changes in the way that clinical microbiologists work.
Raoult
Didier
D
Unité des Rickettsies, CNRS UMR 6020, Faculté de Médecine, Université de la Méditerranée, 27 Bd Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille, France. Didier.Raoult@medecine.univ-mrs.fr
Fournier
Pierre Edouard
PE
Drancourt
Michel
M
D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D003142:Communication; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis