Caitlin Keighley^1
1Southern.IML Pathology

The evolving landscape of microbiology plays a pivotal role in healthcare innovation, driving changes in infectious disease diagnosis and treatment. Advancements in decentralised testing and more comprehensive diagnostics may particularly benefit regional and remote areas.

Key milestones, from Pasteur’s germ theory to Tanaka’s MALDI-ToF, mark the microbiology discipline’s advancements in clinical practice. The fundamental focus of microbiology is identifying microbial pathogens, or intruders, rather than focusing on the host, with implications for transmission and therefore public health response. Modern innovations, including point-of-care molecular testing and metagenomics, redefine infectious disease diagnostics by expanding capabilities and improving access to testing with expanded capability. Additionally, trends in result delivery, such as short message service (SMS) notifications, empower both patients and healthcare providers, enhancing responsiveness during outbreaks.

Reflecting on historic and current developments highlights the unique contributions of microbiologists in innovation and adapting to the dynamic demands of infectious disease diagnostics. Through an exploration of microbiology’s past and present, the future of diagnostic science and its potential impact on global health are examined.