Major Fields in Medical Microbiology

Major fields in medical microbiology can be determined and defined this way:

Bacteriology - is the study of bacteria. This subdivision of microbiology involves the identification, classification, and characterization of bacterial species.  Because of the similarity of thinking and working with microorganisms other than bacteria, such as protozoa, fungi, and viruses, there has been a tendency for the field of bacteriology to extend as microbiology. The terms were formerly often used interchangeably. However, bacteriology can be classified as a distinct science.

Parasitology- is the study of parasites, their hosts, and the relationship between them. As a biological discipline, the scope of parasitology is not determined by the organism or environment in question, but by their way of life.

Mycology - is the branch of microbiology concerned with the study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy and their use to humans as a source for tinder, medicine, wine, cheese, (edible mushrooms), and entheogens, as well as their dangers, such as poisoning or infection.

Virology-  is the study of viruses – submicroscopic, parasitic particles of genetic material contained in a protein coat – and virus-like agents.