Clinical Orientated Microbiology Flashcards
Clinical vs clinical and laboratory diagnosis?
clinical - possibly chickenpox is visible and can be diagnosed there and then
laboratory - need to combine the laboratory results and your knowledge of disease to clinically diagnose someone
What are the 2 specimen types?
sterile and non-sterile sites
What are the sterile sites?
brain
bone
pancreas
kidneys
liver
What are the non-sterile sites?
skin
stomach and intestines
mouth and teeth
nose and airways
genital
What is the difference between sterile and non-sterile body sites?
Non-sterile sites are usually those parts of the body that are exposed to the external environment and may contain microorganisms.
Name 8 common specimen types of bacterial cultures?
Common infections which are tested for
- Urinary tract infection
- Chest infection
*Tonsillitis/pharyngitis - Wound / abscess
- Infectious diarrhoea
- Bacteraemia (sepsis)
- Meningitis
- Oral infections
What specimen you you take a sample of to test for a UTI?
mid-stream urine
What specimen you you take a sample of to test for a chest infection?
sputum
What specimen you you take a sample of to test for tonsilitis?
throat swab
What specimen you you take a sample of to test for a wound/abcess?
swab or pus
What specimen you you take a sample of to test for infectious diarrhoea?
faeces
What specimen you you take a sample of to test for sepsis?
blood culture
What specimen you you take a sample of to test for menigitis?
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
What specimen you you take a sample of to test for oral infections?
oral rinse, aspirate of pus.
What are the steps which the lab use to test a bacterial infection?
microscopy (urgent/rapid)
culture
susceptibility testing
Define commensal organism?
the typical or norm/ non-harmful
How do you apply lab results clinically?
e.g. S. aureus can be commensal and a pathogen depending on context.
if skin is red and inflamed on an open wound then it is likely pathogenic
if the skin appears healthy with no open wound then it is likely commensal
How does the lab test for a virus?
molecular methods - real time / multiple PCR e.g. throat/ nose swab.
antigen detection (Hepb)
serology to determine immunity e.g. blood sample
virtually obsolete methods e.g. electron microscopy, cell or tissue culture (inoculate cell line)
What 3 areas are parasites divided into?
protozoa (malaria)
helminths (worms)
arthropods (lice/ticks)
important in developing countries
Wha are the diagnostic principles in parasitology?
microscopy of different life cycles stages e.g. parasites, cysts and ova faeces
blood films for malaria
culture rarely possible
