New Ways To Demonstrate Pathogenic Organisms

Myriad microorganisms may infect the human integument and numerous methods are available to diagnose these infections, including direct visualization of the pathogen, evaluation of the inflammatory tissue reaction pattern in biopsies, antigen detection, culture, and serologic studies. In this chapter we will focus primarily on smear and biopsy specimens familiar to most dermatologists and dermatopathologists. We will discuss some new pathogens and new, novel, or promising techniques for the diagnosis of infectious diseases of the skin.