The papers published herein comprise the presentations given at the eighteenth of an annual series of clinical symposia arranged under the auspices of the Eastern Pennsylvania Branch of the American Society for Microbiology. This symposium allowed approximately 200 persons to gather and exchange ideas on the rapid laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases. The institution of the Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) method for reimbursement by both government agencies and private insurance carriers has provided a financial aspect to the established clinical reasons for rapid laboratory diagnosis....