What is the study of bacteria known as?

Bacteriology specifically refers to the study of bacteria, focusing on their characteristics, classification, and the role they play in various environments, including their impact on health and disease. This field of study helps professionals understand different types of bacteria, their functions, and how they interact with hosts, which is crucial in numerous applications, including healthcare, sanitation, and the cosmetic industry where products may be influenced by bacterial growth.

Microbiology is a broader field that encompasses the study of various microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. Although bacteriology is a subset of microbiology, it zeroes in exclusively on bacteria. Biology is the general science of life and living organisms; it is much wider and does not focus specifically on bacteria. Pathology studies disease processes, including the effects of bacteria that cause diseases, but does not exclusively investigate bacteria themselves.

Therefore, bacteriology is the most precise answer because it directly addresses the specific study of bacteria.