Intro to Microbiology Flashcards
What is microbiology?
The study of microorganisms Basic eg cellular microbiology, or applied eg medical microbiology
What are the microbial causes of infection?
Bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, prions (infectious proteins)
What is the classification of bacteria, viruses and fungi?
Bacteria- Prokaryotic Viruses- unclassified Fungi- Eukaryotic
What is the classification of parasites and prions?
Parasites- Eukaryotic (usually can be vectors for prokaryotes) Prions- Unclassified
What is important about microorganisms?
Size
What are the generalised specimen types collected for culture?
Sterile sites (e.g. brain and blood) and no sterile ties (e.g. skin and gastro-intestinal tract)
What are specimen types collected for culture?
Mid stream specimen of urine to test for UTI’s Throat swab to test for tonsilitis Faeces to test for diarrheoa
What is microscopy?
Light microscopy *1000 magnification
What are the different types of microscopy?
Unstained to see white blood cells eg urine, CSF or to see parasites (faeces) Gram train to visualise bacteria and yeasts/fungi Special stain eg for Mycobacteria
What cannot be seen visible in light microscope?
Viruses
What are the benefits fo microscopy?
Rapid, urgent information can be relayed to clinicians. It is not specific but it assists provisional diagnosis and empiric antimicrobial therapy.
What are the methods of detecting viruses?
Need a host cell to replicate. Molecules methods eg real time/multiplex Polymerase chain reaction. Relies on serum samples
Define bacterium.
Round single celled prokaryotic orgaism that typically lives in soil, water, or the bodies of plants and animals
Define fungus.
Kingdom of saprophytic and parasitic spore-producing eukaryotic organisms including moulds, yeasts, mushrooms and yeasts.
What is the classification of parasites?
Protozoa (malaria, amoeba) Helminths/ worms (roundworms, tapeworms) Arthropods (ticks, lice)
