Microbiology is part of the core curriculum in surgical technology. It may be presented as a separate course in a two-year program or integrated into a variety of courses in a one-year program. Typically microbiology is taught by a member of the surgical technology program. This text is a comprehensive treatment of the disease-causing organisms that may present with a surgical patient or develop post-surgery as an acquired infection. The text addresses the specific needs of the surgical technologist in maintaining aseptic technique and caring for surgical patients before, during, and after surgery.