Humans are surrounded by tiny living organisms invisible
to the naked eye. For the most part, these microorganisms
cause no problems; however, when they are pathogenic in
nature or are displaced fromtheir natural environment, they
can cause infections and disease. This chapter addresses the
different life forms of microorganisms and how they may be
identified; it also teaches you the proper collection technique
for common types of specimens. You will learn about
the processes involved in identifying microorganisms, the
types of culture media used for these processes, how
antimicrobial testing is done, and how quality control fits
into ensuring reliable patient results. |