Importance of clinical microbiologists for U.S. healthcare infrastructure.

Clin Lab Sci

NSM A-135, Biology Department, California State University Dominguez Hills, 1000 E. Victoria St., Carson, CA 90747, USA.

Published: October 2011

AI Article Synopsis

  • Clinical microbiologists play a crucial role in diagnosing infections from emerging pathogens in hospitals and laboratories.
  • The closure of many Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) programs in the U.S. has led to a shortage of these professionals, which impacts public health and the response to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
  • The paper discusses the crisis in MLS training and its effects on healthcare economics and national health, while suggesting improvements for public health policy regarding MLS education.

Article Abstract

Clinical microbiologists are highly skilled scientists within national hospitals and reference laboratories who diagnose patients with infections by emerging pathogens. Most advanced training for clinical microbiologists occurs at universities, where an individual can receive certification as a "Medical Laboratory Scientist" (MLS). Unfortunately, many MLS programs have closed in the United States and this has caused a shortage of clinical microbiologists at U.S. hospitals and reference laboratories. This paper explores the present crisis in MLS training and its ramifications for the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the economics of hospitals, and the overall health of the nation, and provides resolutions for better public health policy with respect to MLS education.

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