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Medical microbiology is both a branch of medicine and microbiology which deals with the study of microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites which are of medical importance and are capable of causing diseases in human beings. It includes the study of microbial pathogenesis and epidemiology and is related to the study of disease pathology and immunology. In the medical laboratory, these microbiologists also work in a subdepartment dedicated to parasitology.The discipline consists primarily of four major spheres of activity: 1. The provision of clinical consultations on the investigation, diagnosis, and treatment of patients suffering from infectious diseases. 2. The establishment and direction of infection control programs across the continuum of care. 3. Public health and communicable disease prevention and epidemiology. 4. The scientific and administrative direction of a diagnostic microbiology laboratory. In addition to these primary activities, medical microbiologists are also involved in teaching at all levels, and in research, both basic and applied. This branch of microbiology is amongst the most widely studied and followed branches due to its great importance to medicine. Along with providing a deep knowledge and understanding of the nature of pathogens this line of study has also been applied in several immunological innovations in the field of medical science. Through the development of vaccines against invading organisms, deadly and debilitating diseases such as small pox, polio, and rabies have been either eradicated or are more treatable because of the efforts of scientists and researchers in the field of medical microbiology.

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