ISSN: 1080-6059
Volume 14, Number 2–February 2008
Book Review
The Microbiology Bench Companion
J. Michael Miller
ASM Press, Washington, DC, USA, 2007
ISBN-10: 1555814026, ISBN-13: 978-1555814021
Pages: 120; Price: US $36.90
Suggested citation for this article
Diagnostic testing for infectious diseases is an increasingly complex area of laboratory medicine. The microbial community continues to evolve and adapt to changing environmental influences, and the distribution of human pathogens has become more global. Our recognition of the spectrum of microorganisms that cause invasive human disease has exploded with the use of culture-independent methods to detect and characterize pathogens. Clinicians, epidemiologists, and public health officials can benefit from consultative interactions with laboratory professionals to assist with optimizing diagnostic test options and interpretation of test results. For technologists without access to board-certified laboratory professionals who can guide the work-up of infectious agents in a microbiology laboratory, a concise guide can be extremely beneficial.
In this handbook, J. Michael Miller, a highly experienced clinical microbiologist, distills a great deal of information into 120 pages, largely formatted as tables and flowcharts. Molecular methods for detecting or identifying microorganisms are notably absent, which may reflect the author's intent to address readers who perform conventional diagnostic tests only. The handbook is divided into 3 sections. Section 1 focuses on routine laboratory bench algorithms for identifying bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Although most of this information can be found in clinical microbiology textbooks, the flowcharts are an easy reference, especially for medical technologists. Section 2 is entirely formatted with tables listing clinical syndromes (e.g., cellulitis, pneumonia, gastroenteritis) and their possible infectious causes. The lists of etiologic agents are extensive, yet practical, and would be of most benefit to infection control practitioners, nurses, and laboratory technologists. Section 3 is devoted to therapeutic choices for various microorganisms and is intended to inform laboratorians of treatment options; it is not a guide for therapeutic decision-making by clinicians. Although certain taxonomic classifications and susceptibility guidelines do not reflect the current standard, most information, such as annotated remarks for pathogens classified as select agents, is timely.
The author valiantly furnishes us with pearls and nuances of clinical microbiology in this clear and concisely written handbook. The task was Herculean. As the author aptly notes in the introduction, no handbook can capture every parameter or indication for identification of all clinically relevant microorganisms and describe these microorganisms in public health or patient-centered contexts. Overall, the author delivers a wealth of information that can benefit technologists and healthcare practitioners in regions with limited access to professionals who specialize in clinical microbiology or infectious diseases.
Cathy A. Petti* 
*University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Suggested Citation for this Article
Petti CA. The microbiology bench companion [book review]. Emerg Infect Dis. [serial on the Internet]. 2008 Feb [date cited]. Available from http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/14/2/354b.htm
Please use the form below to submit correspondence to the authors or contact them at the following address:
Cathy A. Petti, University of Utah School of Medicine, 50 N Medical Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA; email: cathy.petti@aruplab.com
Please contact the EID Editors at eideditor@cdc.gov
The opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
This page posted January 29, 2008
This page last reviewed January 29, 2008
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