Introduction to microbiology Flashcards
what is the 5 possible infecting agents
Bacteria Viruses Fungi Parasites Prions
What is a prion
type of protein that can trigger normal proteins in the brain to fold abnormally
What specimen type is collected for culture in Meningitis
cerebro spinal fluid
What specimen type is collected for culture in Bacteraemia
Blood culture
What is a bacteria in the blood called?
Bacteraemia
What specimen type is collected for culture in chest infection
Sputum
What specimen type is collected for culture in urinary tract infection
Midstream urine
What is a gram stain used to see
Bacterium and yeast/fungi
What isn’t visible in light microscope
Viruses
What is the difference between sterile and non sterile sites
Sterile easier to identify as only one organism present, where in non sterile other bacteria are present therefore harder to distinguish particular organism
Examples of sterile sites
Blood
CSF
Lung
Bladder
Examples of non-sterile sites
Skin
Nasopharynx
Urethra
Gut
Methods used for Diagnosis of viral infection
PCR Antigen detection Cell/tissue culture inoculation serology Electron Microscopy
Diagnosis viral infection for malaria parasite
Microscopy of blood films
Diagnosis viral infection in your intestinal tract
parasites, cysts and ova in faeces
What is PCR
Multiple copies of DNA are made by the repeated action of polymerase
What is serology
Testing blood serum for immunity in repose to pathogen
Characteristic of Gram stain
Rapid and not sensitive
What does unstained microscopy allow you to see
Pus cells (urine CSF) Parasites (faeces)
What does ZN stain or auramine stain allow you to see
myobacteria (a bacterium of a group which includes the causative agents of leprosy and tuberculosis)
What is the benefits of culture medium compared to microscopy
Conditions are suitable for expected species
and can identify particular species
What is the benefit of microscopy to culture medium
Microscopy is rapid and insensitive
How is a species identified
By its characteristics
DNA tests
Typing
What does typing do
determines strain within a species, by creating DNA profile
