Microbiology Flashcards
Nonpathogenic bacteria
harmless and can be very beneficial.
• Somebacteriahavemedicalapplications.
• Otherbacteria,likesomefoundincertaindairyproducts(suchasyogurt),havehealth-enhancing
properties.
• Stillotherbacteriacausethedecayofrefuseorvegetationandtherebyimprovethefertilityofsoil.
• Approximately70%ofallbacteriaarenonpathogenicandmanyliveonthesurfaceoftheskin.
Pathogenic bacteria
live everywhere in your environment and even exist inside your body.
• Severaldifferenttypesofpathogenicbacteriaareharmfulbecausetheycauseinfectionanddisease,
and some produce toxins (poisons).
• Infectiousbacteriacanbeeasilyspreadinthesalonbyusingunsanitaryimplementsorviadirtyhands
and fingernails.
Cocci
are spherical (round-shaped) bacterial cells, which appear singularly or in groups. To remember, think C = circle and Cocci. There are three groups of Cocci:
Staphylococci
Pus-formingbacterialcells
• Formasgrape-likebunchesorinclusters
• Presentinabscesses,pustulesandboils
• Sometypeswon’tcauseinfectionbutotherscouldbefatal
Streptococci
Pus-formingbacterialcells
• Forminlongchainsandcancausesepticemia(sometimescalledbloodpoisoning),strep
throat, rheumatic fever and other serious infections
Diplococci
To remember, Diplo means double.
• Bacterialcellsthatgrowinpairs
• Causeofcertaininfections,includingpneumonia
Bacilli
To remember, think B = bar and Bacilli.
• Mostcommonformofbacterialcells
• Bacilliarebar-orrod-shapedcellsthatcanproduceavarietyofdiseasesincludingtetanus,
bacterial influenza, typhoid fever, tuberculosis and diphtheria
Spirilla
To remember, think S = spiral and Spirilla.
• Spiraled,coiled,corkscrew-shapedbacterialcells
• Causehighlycontagiousdiseasessuchassyphilis,asexuallytransmitteddisease(STD);
cholera; and Lyme disease
Antibodies
Kill, inactivate or destroy pathogens
Antitoxins
Neutralize a specific toxin
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV
Bloodbornepathogenthatcausesahighlyinfectiousdiseasethatinfectstheliver.
• HBVisavaccine-preventabledisease.
• Inoculationisoftenrecommendedforpersonalserviceworkers,suchasnurses,doctors,teachersand
salon professionals, since they work closely with the public.
• Checkwithyourlocalhealthagencyordoctortodetermineifyouareacandidateforthisinoculation.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Virus that can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
• HIVinterfereswiththebody’snaturalimmunesystemandcausesittobreakdown.
• ScientistshavegainedagreatdealofknowledgeaboutHIVandhowitisspreadandhowtopreventit
• HIVisspreadwhenbodyfluidsfromaninfectedindividualareabsorbedintothebloodstreamofan
uninfected individual. The fluids from the infected person must contain sufficient amounts of the virus.
• FluidsknowntocontainsufficientamountsofHIVareblood,semen,vaginalfluidsandbreastmilk.
Body fluids must enter the uninfected person for that person to be infected.
• Infectiousfluidscanenterthroughsexualintercourse,sharingneedlesorsyringes,childbirth,cutsor
sores (that are exposed to the infectious materials) and other instances where the body fluid of one
individual enters the body of another.
Head lice
transmitted directly from one person to another, or by contact with articles that have come in contact with an infested person (such as combs and brushes, etc.).
• Thepresenceofheadliceisusuallyaccompaniedbyheadscratching,rednessand/orsmallbite
marks on the scalp.
• Closeinspectionofthehairandscalpwithafine-toothcomb,astronglightandamagnifyingglasswill
sometimes reveal the tiny tan to grayish adult lice.
• Morelikelytoseetheireggs,callednits,whicharewhitish,ovalspecksattachedtothehairshafts
about 1⁄4” (.6 cm) from the skin.
• Headliceinfestationisveryeasytocontrol,ifdetected,byusingapediculicide(lice-killing)shampoo.
6 signs of infection:
Pain, swelling, redness, local fever (heat), throbbing and discharge.
