Microbiology

State Public Health Laboratory

The State Public Health Laboratory protects the public health by providing both direct clinical and reference microbiological testing and reference microbiological laboratory services, including consultation, technical assistance and training to governmental agencies and private laboratories to diagnose, prevent, and treat infectious and communicable diseases and conditions caused by environmental contamination.

The Microbiology Laboratory

• Examines samples for the presence of enteric pathogens such as Salmonella and Shigella
• Examines samples for the presence of intestinal and blood parasites
• Identifies unusual and dangerous pathogenic bacteria received from other laboratories
• Examines samples for Bordetella pertusis (Whooping Cough)
• Serves as advanced reference laboratory for detection and identification of bacterial bioterrorism agents
• Collects and disseminates surveillance data on infectious bacterial diseases
• Assists in detection and control of infectious disease outbreaks

Microbiology, the study of bacteria, including their classification and the prevention of diseases that arise from bacterial infection. The subject matter of bacteriology is distributed not only among bacteriologists but also among chemists, biochemists, geneticists, pathologists, immunologists, and public-health physicians.¹

Bacteria, one-celled organisms visible only through a microscope. Bacteria live all around us and within us. The air is filled with bacteria, and they have even entered outer space in spacecraft. Bacteria live in the deepest parts of the ocean and deep within Earth. They are in the soil, in our food, and on plants and animals. Even our bodies are home to many different kinds of bacteria. Our lives are closely intertwined with theirs, and the health of our planet depends very much on their activities.²

References:
1. "Microbiology," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2003
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
2. "Bacteria," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2003
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.