[Clinical microbiology: the structure and functions of specialized laboratories].

The definition of clinical microbiology as a branch of science dealing with the interrelation of macro- and microorganisms under normal and pathological conditions and in the dynamics of a pathological process with an account of the treatment till the clinical and/or complete recovery is presented. The contribution of the clinical microbiologists of the M.F. Vladimirskiĭ Moscow Region Research Clinical Institute to the fundamental studies on the pathogenesis and mechanism of action of antibiotics and immunological preparations as well as physiotherapy i.e. UV irradiation and laser application with respect to patients and opportunistic bacteria is described.