Bacteriology

Question 1

Why do estheticians study bacteria?

Answer 1

• Teaches the importance of sanitation and sterilization so the esthetician can relate this to the cleanliness and sanitation of a salon.
• To understand how disease may be transferred or prevented and the ability to recognize signs of infection.

Question 2

Define bacterium

Answer 2

Bacterium are minute one celled micro-organisms that are found nearly everywhere. They are also called germs, microbes, or microorganisms. You can see bacteria with the use of a microscope.

Question 3

Define non pathogenic bacteria

Answer 3

Non pathogenic bacteria are beneficial or harmless and the majority of bacteria fall into this category. They also perform useful functions like decomposing refuse, stimulating the immune system. They help with digestion and can also be used to make foods like yogurt or cheese.

Question 4

Define pathogenic bacteria

Answer 4

Pathogenic bacteria are capable of causing disease and may be harmful. They are the minority of all bacteria, but they can cause significant damage when invading plant or animal tissue. It is important to clean and disinfect to avoid the spread of pathogenic bacteria.

Question 5

Define cocci and list the three subclassifications of cocci

Answer 5

Cocci are round shaped organisms, they can be singular or in groups. The three subclassifications of cocci are staphylococci, streptococci, and diplococci.

Question 6

Define Staphylococci

Answer 6

Staphylococci are pus forming organisms that grow in bunches or clusters. They cause accesses, pustules, and boils.

Question 7

Define Streptococci

Answer 7

Streptococci are pus forming organisms that grow in chains. They cause strep throat and blood poisoning.

Question 8

Define Diplococci

Answer 8

Diplococci are cocci bacteria that grow in pairs. They cause pneumonia.

Question 9

Define Bacilli

Answer 9

Bacilli are rod shaped bacteria. They can be short, thin, thick in structure. They are the most common pathogenic bacteria. Many bacilli are spore forming.

Question 10

What does spore forming mean?

Answer 10

A spore forming bacteria has a protective wall to withstand unfavourable conditions.

Question 11

Define Spirilla Bacteria

Answer 11

Spirilla are curved or corkscrew shaped bacteria. They can produce syphilis.

Question 12

What does bacteria consist of?

Answer 12

Bacteria consists of an outer cell membrane and inner protoplasm.

Question 13

What do bacteria do during the active (vegetative) stage?

Answer 13

During active stage bacteria grow and reproduce.

Question 14

How do bacteria survive and what do they eat?

Answer 14

Bacteria manufactures their own food from their surrounding environment. They give off waste products (toxins) and the grow and reproduce.

Question 15

What environment do bacteria multiply best in?

Answer 15

Bacteria multiply best in warm, dark, damp and dirty places where sufficient food is present. When conditions are favourable bacteria reproduce very fast.

Question 16

How do bacteria grow and multiply?

Answer 16

Bacterial cells grow in size as they absorb food. Once they reach the limit of growth, bacterial cells divide forming two cells. This process is called binary fission.

Question 17

How many bacteria can develop in 1/2 a day when conditions are favourable? (from one bacteria)

Answer 17

From one bacteria as many as 16 million bacteria can develop in 1/2 a day when conditions are favourable.

Question 18

What happens to bacteria when conditions are unfavourable?

Answer 18

When conditions are unfavourable, bacteria die or become inactive.

Question 19

Explain bacterias inactive stage and what spore forming means.

Answer 19

Certain bacteria (usually bacilli) during their inactive phase (no growth/reproduction) in order to withstand famine, dryness, and unsuitable temperature, form spherical (shape) spores with tough outer coverings which are very resistant. In this stage spores can be blown about in the dust and are not harmed by disinfectants, heat or cold.

Question 20

With spore forming bacteria what happens when favourable conditions return?

Answer 20

When favourable conditions return the bacteria go back to an active growth stage.

Question 21

Define Flagella and Cilia

Answer 21

Flagella or cilia helps bacteria move around and they are hair-like extensions which extend from the sides, or ends. Flagella moves with a snake like motion, and cilia moves with a rowing motion. Only mobile bacteria have flagella or cilia, bacteria that is not mobile will not have them.

Question 22

What kind of bacteria are mobile and what kind are not?

Answer 22

Spirilla and bacilli are both capable of movement and cocci rarely show active mobility.

Question 23

Explain what makes bacterial infections possible?

Answer 23

Pathogenic bacteria such as bacilli, cocci, or spirilla make bacterial infections possible. Infection occurs when the body is unable to cope with bacteria and their harmful toxins.

Question 24

Describe what a local infection is

Answer 24

A local infection may be indicated by a boil or pimple and is confined to one area, they can turn into general infections.

Question 25

What is a general or systemic infection?

Answer 25

A general infection results when the blood stream carries bacteria and their toxins, to all parts of the body. It is also called a systemic infection.

Question 26

List the signs of infection.

Answer 26

Some signs of infection include redness, swelling, pain, heat, fever, and pus.

Question 27

Explain what the presence of pus indicates and what pus is made up of.

Answer 27

The presence of pus indicates an infection. Pus is made up of bacteria, waste matter, decayed tissue, body cells, blood cells, both living and dead.

Question 28

What kind of bacteria most commonly forms pus?

Answer 28

Staphylococci is the most common pus forming bacteria.

Question 29

What is a contagious disease?

Answer 29

A contagious disease is a disease that is capable of spreading from one person to another either directly or indirectly.

Question 30

What forces outside the body are capable of destroying bacteria?

Answer 30

Some forces outside the body that are capable of destroying bacteria are disinfectants, intense heat, vaccines, antibiotics, and ultra violet rays.

Question 31

Define disinfectants

Answer 31

Disinfectants are chemicals that destroy microbes with the exception of spore forming microbial bacteria.

Question 32

What are antibiotics and what do they do?

Answer 32

Antibiotics are substances that inhibit growth or destroy another type of organism, they are only effective against bacteria, not viruses or parasites. Antibiotics are produced by microorganisms. e.g. penicillin is found in the mould penicillium and is produced to treat a variety of bacterial infections.

Question 33

What are the body’s first line defences against infection?

Answer 33

The body constantly defends itself against infection. Some of the first line defences are healthy skin (which acts as a barrier), the nose (mucous membranes and nose hair), also the act of sneezing or coughing, mucous membranes in the mouth, gastric acids in the stomach, tears in the eyes and ear wax.

Question 34

If bacteria gets in the body what are some second line defences against infection?

Answer 34

Inflammation (a closed sac formed to localize the problem) is a second line of defence. White blood cells also destroy harmful bacteria in the blood stream and tissues to help prevent the spread of infection.

Question 35

What is the body’s third line of defence?

Answer 35

The body’s third line of defence is antibody production. Antibodies are molecules created by the body in response to antigens which are disease causing agents.

Question 36

Define immunity

Answer 36

Immunity is the ability of the body to resist invasion by bacteria and destroy them once they have gained entrance to the body. This is the body’s final line of defence.

Question 37

What is congenital or natural immunity?

Answer 37

Natural or congenital immunity is inherited and present at birth. Antibodies which occur naturally in the body without known antigen stimulation.

Question 38

What is acquired immunity?

Answer 38

Acquired immunity is obtained after birth and develops during a persons lifetime. It can be active or passive.

Question 39

What is active acquired immunity?

Answer 39

It is immunity obtained by having had a given infection disease. Or by inoculation with a modified (weakened) form of the organism that caused the disease (vaccinations). The body forms its own antibodies in Both instances and these antibodies stay in the body for years, often for life.

Question 40

What is passive acquired immunity?

Answer 40

Passive acquired immunity results from injection of immune serum containing antibodies often post exposure. i.e. rabies.

Question 41

What is the difference between active and passive acquired immunity?

Answer 41

Active acquired immunity is the body creating its own antibodies and often provides life long immunity. Passive acquired immunity is immunity from a serum which injects antibodies into the body allowing the body to create more. The main difference is that one you create your own antibodies and the other you are given antibodies.

Question 42

Define human disease carrier

Answer 42

A human disease carrier is a person who is immune to a disease, who has no symptoms, yet harbours germs that can infect other people (typhoid fever, diphtheria can be transmitted this way)

Question 43

List some sources of infection

Answer 43

Some sources of infection include unclean hands, unclean implements, open infected sores, pus, nose and mouth discharges, common use of drinking cups, common use of towels, coughing, sneezing and spitting, contaminated containers, bacteria on the skin, body openings, clothing, garbage and H2O (water)

Question 44

How can infections be controlled and prevented?

Answer 44

Through hygiene and sanitation

Question 45

What kind of bacteria causes infections?

Answer 45

Pathogenic bacteria causes infection. No infection can take place unless the bacteria are pathogenic.

Question 46

How do bacteria enter the body?

Answer 46

A break in the skin
Breathing air
Swallowing (H2O or food)
Ears, eyes, or any natural body openings

Question 47

What are viruses?

Answer 47

Viruses are extremely small organisms. A virus is capable of replication by taking over the host cell’s reproductive functions. Viruses cause colds and gastrointestinal infections.

Question 48

What are parasites?

Answer 48

Parasites are plants or animals which live upon, within, or at the expense of another organism known as the host, they must have a host to survive. Plant parasites or fungi (moulds, mildew etc) can produce contagious diseases like ringworm. Animal parasites are certain insects that can produce contagious disease (lice, mites, mosquitos) inject bacteria into the blood stream.

Question 49

What are some things you can do to avoid the spread of infection?

Answer 49

1. Keep surroundings clean. Make sure everything is clean before use and sanitized after use.
2. Be aware of the importance of healthful, nourishing foods, proper rest, exercise and physical checkups to maintain health. Take a holistic approach.
3. Refuse service to a person who obviously has a contagious disease or infection. Tactfully suggest the client see a doctor.

Question 50

What is contra-indication?

Answer 50

Contraindication is treatment that could cause harmful or negative side effects to those who have medical or skin conditions.