ART treatment is vulnerable to the hazard of potential infection from many different sources: patients, samples, staff, and the environment. Culture of gametes and embryos in vitro provides multiple targets for transmission of potential infection, including the developing embryo, neighboring gametes and embryos, the couple undergoing treatment and other couples being treated during the same period. This unique situation, with multifaceted opportunities for microbial growth and transmission, makes infection and contamination control absolutely crucial in the practice of assisted reproduction, and in the laboratory in particular. This unique and practical book provides a basic overview of microbiology in the context of ART, providing an up-to-date guide to infections in reproductive medicine. The relevant facets of the complex and vast field of microbiology are condensed and focused, highlighting information that is crucial for safe practice in both clinical and laboratory aspects of ART.


Spans the important interface between the fields of reproductive medicine and microbiology


Deals in depth with the perils and risks of infection during ART, and how best to eliminate and avoid these


Practical, well-illustrated and with well documented guidance on protocols and procedures

Contents
Preface; Acknowledgements; Part I. Overview of Microbiology: 1. Introduction; 2. Bacteriology; 3. Mycology: moulds and yeasts; 4. Virology; 5. Prions; 6. Parasitology; Part II. Infections in Reproductive Medicine: 7. Genital ulcer disease; 8. Vaginitis syndromes; 9. Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infections; 10. Urethritis and cervicitis syndromes; 11. Pathology of the upper genitourinary tract; 12. Cytomegalovirus and blood-borne viruses; Part III. Infection and the Assisted Reproductive Laboratory: 13. Infection and contamination control in the ART laboratory; 14. Handling of infectious agents in the ART laboratory; 15. Prevention: patient screening and the use of donor gametes; Index.