Specimen Processing

Question 1

When to include culture for Actinomyces?

Answer 1

Presence of sulphur granules

Question 2

What is Brucella enriched with

Answer 2

Blood, hemin, vitamin K

Question 3

Recovery of organisms, particularly if small #, are considered significant

Answer 3

Pus, gas, or foul smell

Question 4

Why are anaerobic cultures not refrigerated

Answer 4

Refrigeration introduces oxygen

Question 5

BRU with _______ inhibits Gram-NEG facultative anaerobes

Answer 5

neomycin

Question 6

Suggests increased protein which could be due to PMNs and infection

Answer 6

Cloudy fluid

Question 7

Anticoagulant suitable for viruses

Answer 7

Heparin

Question 8

Why would a specimen with the characteristic “bloody swab” be important

Answer 8

Suggests a deeper wound => may need anaerobic culture

Question 9

This organism is sensitive to SPS in blood cultures

Answer 9

N. meningitidis

Question 10

4 examples of non-routine specimen

Answer 10

• artificial vein
• heart valve
• corneal transplant
• 5-lumen catheter

Question 11

Hardy organism that can survive a delay in culture

Answer 11

Enterococcus faecalis

Question 12

Turn-around-time for STAT on a direct smear?

Answer 12

< 2 hrs

Question 13

What is a sputum Q score

Answer 13

Ratio of squamous epithelial cells to PMNs

Question 14

3 scenarios to suspect ANO2

Answer 14

• Seen in smear, failed to grow aerobically
• Thioglycollate broth = G, but plates = NG
• Typical ANO2 microscopic morphology

Question 15

What is PRAS

Answer 15

Pre-reduced and anaerobically sterilized

Question 16

Send to BCCDC for further investigation of serotypes that cannot be identified routinely

Answer 16

Bloody stool

Question 17

Describe prioritization of STAT specimens by ward

Answer 17

OR > PICU > ER

Question 18

What is BV scoring

Answer 18

Bacterial vaginosis scoring

Question 19

Why is cooked meat broth better than thioglycollate broth for longer storage of anaerobes

Answer 19

Meat acts as both reducing and detoxifying substance

Question 20

Purpose of LKV plate

Answer 20

Enhance Bacteroides, inhibit GPC (vanco) and GNB facultative anaerobes (kanamycin)