What is the difference between a medical/clinical and a public health microbiologist?

[H Singh]

What is the difference between a medical/clinical and a public health microbiologist?

They seem very similar...some job listings seem to accept either one.

[luisillo]

I'm not very sure, but I think the first is a physician who specializes in diagnosis and treatment of microbiological infections in patients. The second sounds more like an, I don't know how it is called in english but literally translated from spanish would be: epidemiologist. An epidemiologist spot outbreaks of infections, report them and suggest/take measures to prevent the spread of that infection.

In conclusion, a medical/clinical microbiologist focuses on curing infections, while a public health microbiologist focuses on preventing spreading of infection.

Hope It helps!

[H Singh]

Your answer seems to confirm what I've read. Thanks for bringing up epidemiology, it sounds potentially interesting.

[Alexramos]

Hello, I am new here.

The main differences, between a Medical/Clinical/Public Health Microbiologist in US is the certification and academic preparation.

The Medical Microbiology is a ABMM (ASM) certificated professional, it could be a Pathologist (Physician) or a Biologist with a PhD in Microbiologist.
This professional needs a preparation in medical field to do clinical correlation between the lab diagnostic and patient clinical condition. It has more knowledges and skills with result interpretation, Gold Standard and procedure application. A Medical Microbiologist doesn´t need by a physician.

The Clinical Microbiologist is a high performance microbiology professional, considering the Specialist in Microbiologist certificated by ASCP.
They have different levels, the Medical Technologist a Bachelor degree professional with experience and the Specialist in Clinical Microbiology with a doctor degree and more than 3 years of experience in the procedures diagnostic field.
The Clinical Microbiologist work inside the lab performing high quality and precision procedures.

The Public Health Microbiologist is a Epidemiologist trained to perform epidemiology correlation, infectious diseases surveillance and infection control. It could perform lab procedures and specially screening test to high density population.