bacteriological

Bacteriological is an adjective relating to bacteriology, the branch of microbiology that studies bacteria, their structure, genetics, metabolism, ecology, and role in health and disease. In practical use, it describes anything pertaining to bacteria or to the discipline of bacteriology, including laboratory methods, diagnostics, and quality control.

Bacteriological methods include isolating organisms on culture media, staining and microscopy (notably Gram staining), biochemical tests, and increasingly molecular approaches such as PCR and sequencing to identify species and assess properties. Traditional culture-based techniques aim to separate pure strains and determine antibiotic susceptibility, metabolic capabilities, or virulence factors. Bacteriological study also investigates bacterial taxonomy and evolution.

In public health and industry, bacteriological analysis informs clinical diagnosis, surveillance of infectious diseases, water and food safety, and biosafety practices in laboratories and facilities. Standards often specify bacteriological criteria for products or environments and use terms like bacteriological quality, bacteriological counts, or bacteriological testing.

Historically, bacteriology emerged in the 19th century with scientists such as Pasteur and Koch, and the term "bacteriological" appears in literature to describe methods, findings, or materials related to bacteria. Today, the field is usually referred to as microbiology or bacteriology, with bacteriology forming a core subdiscipline focusing on bacteria.