Medical microbiology

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Medical Microbiology is a branch of microbiology and deals with the disease-causing (pathogenic) micro-organisms ( bacteria , fungi , protozoa ).

separations

A distinction is made between human medical microbiology (pathogens in humans) and veterinary microbiology (pathogens in animals). In addition, pathogens can be differentiated according to the taxonomic group: medical bacteriology , medical virology , medical mycology (fungi), medical parasitology .

The focus is on research into the structure and physiology of pathogens ( pathogens ), the interrelationships between pathogens and their hosts, the recording and detection of pathogens (diagnosis), as well as the therapy and prevention of diseases caused by microorganisms.

Since an infection of the host with the pathogen is a prerequisite for the manifestation of the disease in question, one speaks of infectious diseases .

The specialist in microbiology, virology and infection epidemiology

After completing a medical degree , you have the opportunity to work as a specialist in microbiology, virology and infection epidemiology in Germany. This requires a five-year training period:

All further training can be carried out both in the clinic and with resident doctors, provided that the relevant training authorization is available. On January 1, 2009, 985 specialists in microbiology, virology and infection epidemiology were registered in Germany, of which 205 were resident. 319 did not exercise any medical activity.

Certificates for biologists

Since 2007, biologists have had the opportunity to obtain a certificate as a "specialist natural scientist for medical microbiology and infection epidemiology (so-called" medical specialist microbiologist ")" from the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology (DGHM) and the professional association of doctors for microbiology, virology and infection epidemiology (BÄMI). The Society for Virology issues a similar certificate for a so-called “specialist virologist”. However, these certificates do not entitle the holder to carry out medical activities which include "direct and indirect evidence of a pathogen for the determination of an infection or communicable disease" (according to Section 24 IfSG ). This means that in Germany there is a doctor's reservation for the entire medical laboratory infection diagnostics and for the resulting statutory reporting and disclosure obligations for infectious diseases. The certificates do not entitle to independent diagnosis or medical advice in the context of laboratory diagnostics, specialist microbiologists or specialist virologists working in this area are not covered by any other commonly existing medical professional liability insurance against liability claims in the event of faulty activity.

Medically relevant bacteria

In the following overview, the medically relevant bacteria are presented in a pragmatic classification. This classification does not correspond to the currently valid taxonomy on a phylogenetic basis.

Bacteria without a solid cell wall

Bacteria with thin cell walls (mostly gram negative )

Bacteria with a multi-layered murein layer ( Firmicutes , mostly gram-positive)

  • Aerobic and facultative anaerobic cocci

literature

  • Moselio Schaechter, John L. Ingraham, Frederick C. Neidhardt: Microbe: The original with translation aids (easy-reading edition). Spectrum Akademischer Verlag, Heidelberg 2006, ISBN 3-8274-1798-8 (textbook on general microbiology).
  • Michael Rolle, Anton Mayr (ed.): Medical microbiology, infection and epidemic theory . 8th edition. Enke Verlag, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 978-3-8304-1060-7 .
  • Helmut Hahn, Dietrich Falke, Stefan HE Kaufmann, Uwe Ullmann (eds.): Medical microbiology and infectious diseases . 5th edition. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg 2004, ISBN 3-540-21971-4 .
  • Herbert Hof, Gernot Geginat (ed.): Medical microbiology . 2nd Edition. Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-13-125312-6 .
  • Susanne Modrow, Dietrich Falke, Uwe Truyen: Molecular Virology. An introduction for biologists and medical professionals . Spectrum textbook. 2nd Edition. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Heidelberg 2002, ISBN 3-8274-1086-X .
  • Ursula Theuretzbacher: Microbiology in everyday clinical practice. Pathogens, diagnostics, therapy . 2nd Edition. Kohlhammer-Verlag, Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3-17-016665-4 .

Web links

Wikibooks: Medical Microbiology  - Learning and Teaching Materials