Recurrent tonsillitis is one of the reasons why I am now a medical microbiologist. At 15 years of age I finally had my tonsils removed and, whilst recovering in hospital, I decided to be a doctor.

Variety and flexibility continue to be one of the main attractions of my specialty. Daily problems can take you from special care baby unit to the medicine for the elderly wards via orthopaedics and the accident and emergency department. In addition, there is a continuing commitment to support general practitioners, practice nurses and others in the community. Although I do not have direct clinical care of these patients I still feel I am making a significant contribution to their well-being.

The laboratory aspects of medical microbiology very much remain a hands-on experience with relatively little automation compared with haematology and clinical biochemistry. The examination of culture plates, distinguishing pathogens from normal flora, still retains elements of an art form. Stained microscopic slides of bacteria and fungi can be beautiful to look at and seeing acid-fast bacilli in sputum remains diagnostically satisfying.

Most medical microbiologists are no longer content to be just laboratory backroom boys and girls. We venture out into the real world joining, for example, ward rounds on ITU or out-patient clinics in paediatrics. Up to a third of all patients in hospital receive an antibiotic during their stay. At a time of increasing bacterial resistance we have a vital role in helping to preserve the therapeutic potential of these important drugs.

Many of us are also infection control doctors. As such, every nook and cranny of the hospital becomes a legitimate place for us to boldly go. Theatres, sterile services unit, kitchens, endoscopy suite, lung function laboratory, waste disposal rooms, chief executive's office are all on our itinerary. Current infection control challenges enterococci, Clostridium difficile diarrhoea will undoubtedly continue in the future. New problems will emerge to challenge our abilities.

Whether after your basic training in medical microbiology you decide to pursue an academic career related more to research, or one combining the laboratory and clinical roles in a district general hospital, or public health work as a consultant for communicable disease control you will always be able to follow what I believe is a challenging and rewarding career.

For further information on training programmes, please contact the Training & Educational Standards Department on 020 7451 6741 or email education@rcpath.org

Dr Paul Wright

The College Specialty Advisory Committee on Medical Microbiology