Microbiology is a branch of science that examines very small living creatures called microorganism, many of which can only be seen with the help of a microscope. Many of these microorganisms cause various diseases in humans. These include primarily bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. In the Microbiology Laboratory of our hospital, these microorganisms that cause diseases can be investigated and the diseases they cause can be determined.
The diseases caused by these small living creatures, which we cannot be seen with the naked eye, are generally called Infectious Diseases.
In this department of our hospital, direct and indirect tests are carried out in relation to infectious microorganisms. In our laboratory, blood and all kinds of body fluids, tissue samples, urine and fecal samples, and other samples are tested to help diagnose and treat infectious diseases. The department includes bacteriology, virology, mycology, parasitology and serology, which are the sub-units of microbiology.
Bacteriology: Detection and identification of bacteria causing infections in humans and detection of their susceptibility to antibiotics. (Typhoid, cholera, bacteria causing throat infections, etc.)
Virology: Tests for diagnosing viruses that cause diseases in humans. (HPV, etc.)
Mycology: Obtaining and diagnosing fungi that cause diseases in humans and investigating their susceptibility to antifungals.
Parasitology: The method of investigating parasites and parasite eggs in feces, urine and other body fluids.
Serology: It is a diagnostic method based on antibodies in infectious diseases.
The tests performed in our microbiology laboratory are mainly as follows:
- Culture tests
- Bacterial identification tests,
- Antibiotic and antifungal susceptibility tests,
- Antibiotic resistance research,
- Direct microscopic examination,
- Dyed preparation examinations,
- Parasite egg search in feces,
- Antigen screening tests,
- Antibody tests (serological tests),
- Molecular diagnostic tests including PCR (Polymerized Chain Reaction) test
When talking about the microbiology laboratory, the tests that first come to mind are generally culture, bacteria identification and antibiotic susceptibility tests. These tests are performed in our laboratory by using systems in accordance with international standards. With this system, bacteria are identified at a much more advanced level than those done by conventional methods; and moreover, information is provided about the resistance mechanisms that cannot be revealed. This is of great importance in the treatment of infections. First of all, this information is very important in terms of combatting infections caused by multiple resistant bacteria which cause infections in hospitals.
