Section I Introduction to Microbiology

1. Historical Introduction 1

2. Structure and Function of Bacteria 6

3. Bacterial Growth and Cultivation 13

4. Microscopy and Staining 19

5. Sterilisation and Disinfection 26

6. Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 37

7. Molecular Diagnosis in Microbiology 44

Section II Immunology

8. Infection and Immunity 49

9. Overview of the Structure and Functions of the Immune System 55

10. Antigens and Antibodies 62

11. Antigen–Antibody Reactions 66

12. Hypersensitivity Reactions 74

13. Vaccines and Immunisation 80

Section III Systematic Bacteriology and Systems-based Microbiology

14. Staphylococci 87

15. Streptococci 92

16. Bacillus and Clostridium 101

17. Non-fermenting Gram-negative Bacilli 111

18. Mycobacteria 114

19. Spirochaetes 123

20. Urinary Tract Infections 129

21. Respiratory Tract Infections 136

22. Meningitis 142

23. Gastrointestinal Tract Infections 148

24. Enteric Fever: Salmonella 156

25. Bacillary Dysentry: Shigella 161

26. Sexually Transmitted Infections 164

27. Uncommon Bacterial Infections 170

Section IV Virology

28. General Properties of Viruses 176

29. Hepatitis Viruses 182

30. Human Immunodeficiency Virus and AIDS 191

31. Poliomyelitis and Rabies 198

32. Exanthematous Fevers and Viral Gastroenteritis 206

33. Arboviruses and Emerging Viral Infections 213

Section V Parasitology

34. Protozoa 226

35. Helminths 237

Section VI Mycology

36. Medical Mycology 251

Section VII Clinical and Hospital Microbiology

37. Normal Microbial Flora of the Human Body 265

38. Microbiology of Water, Air, Milk, and Food 269

39. Hospital-acquired Infections (Nosocomial Infections) 273

40. Collection and Transport of Specimens for Microbiological Investigations 282

41. Laboratory Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases 290

42. Biomedical Waste Management 296

43. Infection Control and Precautions in Patient Care 300

44. Infective Syndromes 309

45. Prevention of Infections in Healthcare Workers 321