Clinical Microbiology
Clinical Microbiology is a specialized, applied branch of microbiology that focuses on the isolation, identification, and characterization of microorganisms—including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites—that cause infectious diseases in humans. By analyzing patient specimens such as blood, urine, and tissue, this discipline provides essential information for the diagnosis of infections and plays a critical role in guiding patient treatment through antimicrobial susceptibility testing, which determines the most effective drugs to combat a specific pathogen. Its findings are crucial not only for individual patient care but also for public health efforts in tracking and controlling the spread of infectious diseases within communities and healthcare settings.