LAB 4 - Normal Flora

Question 1

Size

Answer 1

diameter in mm.

Question 2

Form

Answer 2

punctiform, circular, filamentous, irregular, rhizoid, spindle

Question 3

Elevation

Answer 3

flat, raised, convex, pulvinate, umbonate, umbilicate

Question 4

Margin

Answer 4

(edge of colony): entire, undulate, lobate, erose, filamentous, curled

Question 5

Colour

Question 6

Density

Answer 6

opaque = no light
transparent = completely clear
translucent = kinda clear

Question 7

Surface

Answer 7

shiny or dull, smooth or rough

Question 8

Consistency

Answer 8

-butyrous soft butter
-slimy
-friable (brittle)
-membranous (when touched with a loop, it sticks to the medium or the entire colony moves without crumbling into pieces

Question 9

Alpha

Answer 9

partial hemolysis, greenish or grey halo

Question 10

Beta

Answer 10

complete hemolysis - transparent halo

Question 11

Gamma

Answer 11

no hemolysis, clear

Question 12

Gram stain

Answer 12

-ve = pink, thin peptiodglycan and LPS

+ve = purple, thick peptuodiglycan

Question 13

strep forms

Answer 13

-staphyloccoci = grape clusters
-streptococci = chains
-diplococci = 2 dots
-cocci = circles

Question 14

3 major species of microbes found in the normal vaginal flora

Answer 14

-Lactobacillus acidophilus
-Lactobacillus Jensenii
-Lactobacillus Gasseri
-these are all healthy vaginal flora so long as they present no overgrowth

Question 15

What is the significance of isolating a spheroidal microbe that exists in short chains, is gram-positive and clears the area surrounding colony of RBCs? What would be
the logical next clinical test to perform on this sample if the microbe were isolated
from a woman at 38 weeks gestation?

Question 16

How does the gram-staining of smears help the midwife?

Answer 16

-gram staining can allow midwives to conclude if clients have bacterial infections. If a client has a bacterial infection, a gram stain will turn either positive or negative. Common types of such bacterial infections in pregnant people can include group B strep, Toxoplasmosis and many more that could be tested with the help of a gram stain. The use of a gram stain can help midwives know what bacteria is present and therefore what treatment or further testing is needed.

Question 17

Why were there few / none bacterial colonies in the urine samples?

Answer 17

-there were no bacterial colonies in the urine sample as urine is normally almost considered sterile while in the bladder but can be exposed to some bacteria while being excreted. Urine is also acidic which has the potential to kill some pathogens, and the urinary tract secretes mucus which can also help sweep away microorganisms.