The molecular diagnostics landscape has changed dramatically since the last edition of Molecular Microbiology: Diagnostic Principles and Practice in 2011. With the spread of molecular testing and the development of new technologies and their opportunities, laboratory professionals and physicians more than ever need a resource to help them navigate this rapidly evolving field.

　Editors David Persing and Fred Tenover have brought together a team of experienced researchers and diagnosticians to update this third edition comprehensively, to present the latest developments in molecular diagnostics in the support of clinical care and of basic and clinical research, including next-generation sequencing and whole-genome analysis. These updates are provided in an easy-to-read format and supported by a broad range of practical advice, such as determining the appropriate type and quantity of a specimen, releasing and concentrating the targets, and eliminating inhibitors. Molecular Microbiology: Diagnostic Principles and Practice:

　ㆍPresents the latest basic scientific theory underlying molecular diagnostics
　ㆍOffers tested and proven applications of molecular diagnostics for the diagnosis of infectious diseases, including point-of-care testing
　ㆍIllustrates and summarizes key concepts and techniques with detailed figures and tables
　ㆍDiscusses emerging technologies, including the use of molecular typing methods for real-time tracking of infectious outbreaks and antibiotic resistance
　ㆍAdvises on the latest quality control and quality assurance measures
　ㆍExplores the increasing opportunities and capabilities of information technology

Contributors ix
Preface xv

section I
Novel and Emerging Technologies 1 Nucleic Acid Amplification Methods Overview / 3
　2 Application of Identification of Bacteria by DNA Target Sequencing in a Clinical Microbiology Laboratory / 19
　3 Microbial Whole-Genome Sequencing: Applications in Clinical Microbiology and Public Health / 32
　4 Digital PCR and Its Potential Application to Microbiology / 49
　5 Massively Parallel DNA Sequencing and Microbiology / 58
　6 Next-Generation Sequencing / 68
　7 Pathogen Discovery / 80
　8 Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry for Microbial Identification in Clinical Microbiology / 92
　9 Multiplex Technologies / 102

section II
Metagenomics: Implications for Diagnostics 10 The Skin Microbiome: Insights into Potential Impact on Diagnostic Practice / 117
　11 The Gastrointestinal Microbiome / 126
　12 The Vaginal Microbiome / 138
　13 Microbial Communities of the Male Urethra / 146
　14 The Human Virome in Health and Disease / 156

section III
Health Care-Associated Infections 15 Molecular Detection of Staphylococcus aureus Colonization and Infection / 169
　16 Molecular Diagnostics for Clostridium difficile / 185
　17 Overview of Molecular Diagnostics in Multiple-Drug-Resistant Organism Prevention: Focus on Multiple-Drug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacterial Organisms / 197
　18 Detection of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci / 212

section IV
Molecular Diagnostics and Public Health 19 The Impact of Molecular Diagnostics on Surveillance of Foodborne Infections / 235
　20 Role of Molecular Methods in Improving Public Health Surveillance of Infections Caused by Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria in Health Care and Community Settings / 245
　21 Molecular Diagnostics: Huge Impact on the Improvement of Public Health in China / 256
　22 Surveillance and Epidemiology of Norovirus Infections / 266
　23 Molecular Diagnostic Assays for the Detection and Control of Zoonotic Diseases / 275

section V
Syndromic Diagnostics 24 Molecular Approaches to the Diagnosis of Meningitis and Encephalitis / 287
　25 Using Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques in a Syndrome-Oriented Approach: Detection of Respiratory Agents / 306
　26 Molecular and Mass Spectrometry Detection and Identification of Causative Agents of Bloodstream Infections / 336
　27 Molecular Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Infections / 362
　28 Diagnostic Approaches to Genitourinary Tract Infections / 386
　29 Syndromic Diagnostic Approaches to Bone and Joint Infections / 401

section VI
Virology 30 Molecular Detection and Characterization of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 / 417
　31 Molecular Detection and Characterization of Hepatitis C Virus / 430
　32 Molecular Detection and Characterization of Hepatitis B Virus / 449
　33 Molecular Detection of Human Papillomaviruses / 465
　34 Molecular Diagnostics for Viral Infections in Transplant Recipients / 476

section VII
Fungi and Protozoa 35 Molecular Detection and Identification of Fungal Pathogens / 489
　36 Molecular Approaches for Diagnosis of Chagas' Disease and Genotyping of Trypanosoma cruzi / 501
　37 Molecular Approaches for Diagnosis of Malaria and the Characterization of Genetic Markers for Drug Resistance / 516
　38 Molecular Detection of Gastrointestinal Parasites / 530

section VIII
Point-of-Care/Near-Care Diagnostics 39 Molecular Diagnostics and the Changing Face of Point-of-Care / 545
　40 Point-of-Care Technologies for the Diagnosis of Active Tuberculosis / 556
　41 Molecular Diagnostics for Use in HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment in Resource-Limited Settings / 580
　42 Rapid Point-of-Care Diagnosis of Malaria and Dengue Infection / 589

section IX
The Host and Host Response 43 Implications of Pharmacogenetics for Antimicrobial Prescribing / 613
　44 Exploiting MicroRNA (miRNA) Profiles for Diagnostics / 634
　45 Host Response in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection / 655
　46 Biomarkers of Gastrointestinal Host Responses to Microbial Infections / 663

section X
Information Technology 47 Point-of-Care Medical Device Connectivity: Developing World Landscape / 685
　48 WHONET: Software for Surveillance of Infecting Microbes and Their Resistance to Antimicrobial Agents / 692
　49 Cloud-Based Surveillance, Connectivity, and Distribution of the GeneXpert Analyzers for Diagnosis of Tuberculosis (TB) and Multiple-Drug-Resistant TB in South Africa / 707

section XI
Quality Assurance 50 Molecular Method Verification / 721
　51 Molecular Microbiology Test Quality Assurance and Monitoring / 745
　52 Proficiency Testing and External Quality Assessment for Molecular Microbiology / 754
　53 Practices of Sequencing Quality Assurance / 766
　54 Verification and Validation of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry-Based Protocols / 784

section XII
The Business of Diagnostics 55 Improved Diagnostics in Microbiology: Developing a Business Case for Hospital Administration / 799
　56 Molecular Diagnostics and the Changing Legal Landscape / 803

Index 811