Modern Diagnostic Methods Used in Bacteriology: Rapid and Effective

Bacteria are organisms that have interacted with human beings for centuries. In this interaction, some species of bacteria have found their place in human microbiota, and have taken useful and important roles. Despite their usefulness, bacteria that cause disease in humans have been responsible for the loss of thousands of people for centuries and even in the age we live. After the discovery of antibiotics and their coming into use, our success rate has increased in this struggle. Besides, it is crucial that the correct antibiotic is given to the patient immediately. In order to achieve this, rapid identification of the pathogen is required. Classical diagnostic methods include time-consuming and labor-intensive procedures based on the cultivation and characterization of bacteria. Even though these processes are carried out close to the ideal, the time spent, leads to a delay in initiating therapy, increased morbidity, mortality and labor loss. Today's modern scientific world has enabled faster, more precise and specific identification of organisms through the development of different devices and approaches. By means of methods such as polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequence analysis, organisms can be identified genotypically. Moreover, with these techniques, species identification has become clearer. In this way, clinicians have been able to plan treatment with more accurate data. Methods such as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, which are gradually becoming a part of routine clinical microbiology procedures, made bacteria identifiable within hours, even those which used to take a long time to identify. This review will emphasize the use of these methods in clinical microbiology in particular, although it is certain that many of them will also have a great importance for the control of environmental samples, food and pharmaceutical products.