The Charles T. Campbell Laboratory finds out what caused your eye infection and much more.
Imagine you are visiting the public library in your town. You will see shelves with books containing knowledge. You have all of these solutions in one place. You rely on the librarian to answer your questions and offer you information on the causes to your problem.A microbiology laboratory operates like a library. Microbiology studies the microorganisms, the microbes, which are too small to be seen without a microscope. Microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, chlamydia can cause:
- conjunctivitis
- infections of the cornea caused by contact lens wear
- infections after eye surgery
The microbiology laboratory, in our case the Campbell Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh, is an interesting library: instead of books, it has an impressive collection of bacteria and viruses.
How is this “library” useful to medical staff and patients?
- By offering complete diagnostic services for the detection of microorganisms which provoke eye diseases
- By monitoring emerging antibiotic resistance among bacteria responsible for eye diseases
- By acting as a knowledge bank for ophthalmologists, both virtually (www.eyemicrobiology.upmc.com) and as a bricks and mortar building
- By evaluating pharmaceutical products and their qualities. The Campbell Laboratory has challenged claims made by pharmaceutical companies about the superiority of their eye products as compared to their competitors’ products. Patients, in agreement with their doctors, can thus make more informed decisions on their treatment
Who are the experts, “librarians” researching at the Campbell Laboratory?
- Regis P. Kowalski, MS [M]ASCP
- Y. Jerold Gordon, MD
- Francis S. Mah, MD
- Eric G. Romanowski, MD
Why should I trust the Campbell laboratory, you might ask?
- it has been founded 37 years ago
- is fully certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the College of American Pathologists and the federal government.
What is the Campbell Laboratory focusing on now?
- Developing new and better tests to detect eye infections
- Making sure that present treatments of eye infections are effective
- Exploring new antibiotics for treating viral infections
Please check the Charles T. Campbell Eye Microbiology Lab website.