Microbiology
Clinical microbiology is the study and identification of microorganisms and infectious diseases. The mission of clinical microbiology is to protect patients by rapidly and accurately identifying microbial diseases, by detecting antibiotic resistance and by assisting in the control of nosocomial infections.
The Division of Clinical Microbiology within the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Cedars-Sinai performs more than 330,000 tests each year. Our Microbiology Laboratory is a state-of-the-art, full-service lab, employing highly trained specialists and sophisticated instrumentation, such as thermocyclers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and automated processors for the identification of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. PCR is an amplification reaction that can find as few as one to 10 microbes in a patient sample, which accelerates the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis and, thereby, the application of proper treatment.
Microbiology includes bacteriology, anaerobic bacteriology, mycology, mycobacteriology, parasitology and virology. Many of the techniques invented by the pioneers of microbiology are still in use, although they have been modified for time, sensitivity and economy. For example, while bacteria and viruses were once identified by patiently culturing them on media or in cells, molecular tests can now identify many microbes within hours.
Bacteriology is the study of bacteria and the diseases they cause. In bacteriology, the mission of the modern laboratory is to rapidly identify infectious and dangerous pathogens - such as bacteria associated with whooping cough ( Bordetella pertussis ), diarrhea (e.g., Salmonella, Shigella or Campylobacter ) or meningitis ( Neisseria meningitidis ) - and to quickly identify any patterns of microbial resistance to antibiotics. For instance, a number of common microbes cause pneumonia, many cases of which are becoming more difficult to treat due to the rapid emergence of drug resistance among bacteria. Some of the most prolific of these drug-resistant bacteria are the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. To address this growing concern, much of the technical sophistication in the laboratory has been directed towards rapid, comprehensive determination of antibiotic resistance, and a large portion of our Microbiology Laboratory's current research involves antimicrobial resistance. Anaerobic bacteriology studies microbes that thrive in oxygen-free environments. Anaerobic bacteria can cause deep, serious and sometimes hidden infections that may be difficult to diagnose. 
Mycology is the subspecialty that detects and studies fungi and yeasts, such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Mucor and Candida. Although most fungi and yeast are harmless in the environment (such as bread mold), they can seriously infect immunocompromised patients. A common, pathogenic fungus in Southern California is Coccidiodes immitis, the cause of valley fever, which can be quickly identified by our laboratory. Fungi can also be tested for antibiotic resistance when necessary.
Mycobacteriology is the study of the family of microbes related to the tuberculosis bacterium (TB), which kills more than two million people in the world every year. These microbes generally grow very slowly in the lab, over a period of weeks, but new molecular methods performed at Cedars-Sinai help rapidly identify them. These microbes may also be tested for antibiotic sensitivity, and our laboratory diligently tests for drug-resistant strains.
Parasitology is growing in importance as incidences of parasitic infections become more frequent. Certain parasitic infections are quite serious, and these microbes must be quickly and accurately identified. The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Cedars-Sinai screens thousands of patient samples each year.
Virology is the study of viruses and the diseases they cause. Viruses can be difficult to detect. Molecular methods are often the only means for identifying viruses, some of which do not grow well in cell cultures. Cedars-Sinai's Virology Laboratory is currently prepared to identify the SARS virus and the West Nile virus.
The microbiology laboratory must be constantly alert to emerging and sometimes new microbes. SARS-related viruses and West Nile virus are reminders that new microbes will show up in the future and that sometimes these will be dangerous and epidemic.
