Challenging Cases in Diagnostic Clinical Microbiology: Advanced Strategies and Techniques

This book aims to communicate, educate and inform readers about important facts and new information related to the practice of clinical microbiology and how laboratory testing can be used to provide data impactful to diagnose, treat and manage patients with infectious diseases. This information is important for individual patient outcomes as well as general public health. The book will provide real world examples of how infectious disease diagnostic tests are applied to algorithms to guide the differential diagnosis and facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of patients. Each section of cases based on the type of organisms involved will be preceded by a discussion of the laboratory methods routinely used to diagnose those types of infections. Most importantly, each illustrated case will be structured to include details of the clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, relevant laboratory findings, pathogen identified, and a brief review of other potential etiologies for the clinical syndrome described. The field of clinical microbiology has evolved considerably over the last couple of decades and the technological advances continue to come at a rapid pace. By incorporating these advancements into the clinical cases, readers will gain a greater understanding of the intricacies and nuances of the performance and utility of these newer tests, as well as how the results should be interpreted for various patient populations. Readers will acquire a wide breadth of knowledge through comprehensive reading of these cases and will benefit greatly from increased familiarity with the practice of clinical infectious disease diagnostics. Envisioned as an instructional text for those already practicing in or training in the field of clinical microbiology, this book will serve clinical pathologists, clinical microbiologists, allied healthcare professionals and physicians, as well as medical students, clinical laboratory scientists and trainees, medical residents, and infectious disease and microbiology fellows. It will be a tool to learn about and enhance skills in the discipline through presentation and discussion of cases and methods. While trainees such as medical students, residents, and fellows will benefit by thinking about the whole process from patient to lab to appropriate treatment- following the structure of board exams- those already in the field will broaden their knowledge base with information on the most up-to-date testing methods and algorithms used in the clinical microbiology lab.

Table of Contents:
 Introduction.- Bacteriology and Mycobacteriology Cases.- Overview of Diagnostic Bacteriology and Mycobacteriology Methods.- Cases 1 to 16.- Virology Cases.- Overview of Diagnostic Virology Methods.- Cases 17 to 24.- Mycology Cases.- Overview of Diagnostic Mycology Methods.- Cases 18 to 32.- Parasitology Cases.- Overview of Diagnostic Parasitology Methods.- Cases 33 to 40.- Rare and Notable Cases.- Cases 41-45.- Glossary.

About the Author :
James J. Dunn, PhD, D(ABMM) Director of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Department of Pathology, Texas Children's Hospital Professor, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine 6621 Fannin St., Ste. AB1195 Houston, TX 77030 (832) 824-2662 jjdunn@texaschildrens.org   Marc Roger Couturier, Ph.D., D(ABMM) Medical Director of Parasitology/Fecal Testing, Infectious Disease Antigen Testing Medical Director over Emerging Public Health Crises, ARUP Laboratories Professor of Pathology, University of Utah 500 Chipeta Way Salt Lake City, UT 84108 801-583-2787 ex:3406 marc.couturier@aruplab.com   Audrey N. Schuetz, MD, MPH, D(ABMM), FCAP Director of Clinical Microbiology Core Laboratory, Co-Director of Bacteriology Laboratory, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Mayo Clinic Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science 200 First Street SW Rochester, MN 55905 (507) 284-3697 schuetz.audrey@mayo.edu