Introduction

INTRODUCTION

 

It has been recognized as an universal practice that when a ‘bacterium’ duly isolated and obtained in a ‘pure culture medium’ it remains to be identified meticulously via certain well-defined broadly accepted systematical laid down procedures. The following characteristic features may be studied in an elaborated intensive and extensive manner in the course of their precise and judicious identification, such as :

 

·        Morphology,

·        Selective and diagnostic media,

·        Cultural characteristics,

·        Resistance,

·        Metabolism,

·        Additional recognized biochemical tests,

·        Profile of microbial stains, and

·        Rapid identification methods.

 

Importantly, the basic clinical microbiological evaluations may provide preliminary or definitive identification of the microorganisms exclusively dependent upon the following five cardinal aspects, namely :

 

(1) Microscopic examination of specimens,

 

(2) Critical investigation with regard to the growth and biochemical characteristic features of the isolated microorganisms (pure cultures),

 

(3) Specific immunologic tests that solely detect either the antibodies or the microbial anti-gens,

 

(4) Bacteriophage typing (restricted to the research settings and the CDC*), and

 

(5) Molecular techniques.

 

The various vital and important aspects of the accurate and precise identification of microor-ganisms shall be treated in an elaborated manner in the sections that follows :