Computer Applications in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory

摘要

The computer system that has been serving the Bacteriology Laboratory of The Massachusetts General Hospital since 1970 owes its development to the active collaboration of various members of the hospital's Department of Bacteriology and Laboratory of Computer Science. Three guiding principles have been observed in the design and maintenance of the system: (1) that the computer should subserve the laboratory and not vice-versa; (2) that economy of human effort and of time be the basis for choosing between alternative devices and methods for handling data; and (3) that measures be taken whenever possible for avoidance, detection and correction of errors.The computer system has been the principal medium for transmission of results of bacteriology laboratory determinations to patients' records since 1971. The accumulation of data relating to tests performed on more than one million specimens during this period of time has provided unique opportunities for using the computer not only for administrative chores, but especially for technical and scientific applications that are clinically relevant. These include the analysis and control of quality of laboratory performance, epidemiological monitoring and forecasting, study of the susceptibility of organisms to antibiotics and of the emergence of resistant strains, and investigation into a variety of real and potential problems. Certain of these applications are illustrated by facsimiles of computer-generated tables, graphs and reports.