Questions and Answers
What defines an opportunistic pathogen?
What is a fomite?
Which statement correctly describes the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria?
Which of the following stains is used to identify acid-fast bacteria?
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What is the primary function of pili in bacterial cells?
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What is the result of excessive heat during bacterial slide preparation?
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What is the primary difference between fermentation and respiration?
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What color do gram-positive bacteria typically stain after a Gram stain procedure?
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Which type of cabinet sterilizes only exhausted air?
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What mask is typically used by a phlebotomist entering a room of a patient suspected to have tuberculosis?
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Which of the following terms defines the method used to eliminate all forms of microbial life, including spores?
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Which biological safety cabinet is identified by the capability to sterilize incoming and outgoing air?
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What criteria must be met for optimal results when using autoclaving as a sterilization method?
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Which of the following organisms would require a specific biosafety level for working safely in a laboratory?
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Which chemical is commonly used as a mild oxidizing agent and antiseptic?
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What is the pore size required to effectively remove viruses from the air?
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Study Notes
Employee Safety and Regulations
- The organization that regulates employee safety in laboratories is OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration).
- Employers must provide training, protective equipment, safety manuals, and emergency procedures to ensure employee safety.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Common types of PPE used in microbiology include gloves, lab coats, goggles, and face shields.
Infection Risk in Laboratories
- Employees can acquire infections through direct exposure to contaminated surfaces, airborne particles, and lack of proper protective equipment.
Tuberculosis Safety Measures
- Phlebotomists entering rooms of patients suspected to have tuberculosis must wear an N95 respirator mask.
- Rooms processing tuberculosis specimens should have negative pressure, proper ventilation, and air filtration systems.
Biological Safety Cabinets (BSC)
- Different BSCs include Class I, Class II, and Class III, each suited for handling specific organisms with varying risk levels.
- Class II BSCs are commonly used in microbiology laboratories.
Laminar Flow
- Laminar flow refers to a method of airflow that minimizes contamination by directing air in a uniform direction.
Biosafety Levels
- Various biosafety levels (BSL-1 to BSL-4) define the type of work performed with infectious agents, increasing lab controls with higher levels.
Microbiology Terms
- Mycology: the study of fungi
- Parasitology: the study of parasites
- Virology: the study of viruses
- Serology: the study of serum and immune responses
Decontamination Procedures
- Venipuncture sites for blood cultures require antiseptic swabbing; CBC collection sites use similar procedures, while surgical instruments undergo sterilization processes.
Factors Influencing Microbial Killing
- Factors affecting microbial killing effectiveness include time, temperature, concentration of the agent, and presence of organic matter.
Sterilization Methods
- Boiling, autoclaving, dry heat, and pasteurization each have specific criteria for achieving sterilization.
Air Filtration
- A pore size of 0.2 micrometers is necessary to effectively remove viruses, bacteria, yeast, and molds from the air.
Sterilization of Plastics
- Ethylene oxide gas is commonly used for sterilizing heat-sensitive plastics.
Physical Methods for Destoying Spores
- Methods such as autoclaving and dry heat are effective in destroying spores.
Chemical Actions
- Halogens: work by oxidizing cellular components.
- Ethylene oxide: penetrates items to inhibit cellular function.
- Quaternary ammonium compounds: disrupt cell membranes.
- Alcohols: denature proteins and dissolve lipids.
- Phenolic compounds: destroy proteins and disrupt cell walls.
Chemical Agents
- Sporicidal compounds such as glutaraldehyde can disinfect large areas and instruments, while hydrogen peroxide is a mild oxidizing agent used as an antiseptic.
Bacteria Classification
- Bacteria are classified in the Monera kingdom.
Microbiological Nomenclature
- Nomenclature terms in microbiology are arranged as domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.
Pathogen Definitions
- Pathogen: any disease-causing organism.
- Normal flora: beneficial microorganisms residing in a host.
- True pathogen: capable of causing disease in a healthy host.
- Opportunistic pathogen: causes disease only when the host's defenses are compromised.
Routes of Infection
- Direct routes include congenital and sexual contact; indirect routes involve tuberculosis, food, water, and vector-borne diseases from arthropods.
Fomites
- Fomites are inanimate surfaces or objects that can harbor infectious agents.
Bacterial Cell Characteristics
- Bacteria are diverse and can be classified as bacteria, algae, fungi, or protozoa, with some thriving in extreme environments.
Fermentation vs. Respiration
- Fermentation is anaerobic, producing less energy, while respiration is aerobic, yielding more energy.
Bacterial Cell Components
- Parts of a bacterial cell include pili, fimbriae, capsule, and cell wall, each serving unique functions.
Pathways for Glucose Breakdown
- Glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation are three metabolic pathways for glucose degradation.
Nutritional Requirements for Bacteria
- Bacteria require nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen, water, minerals, and growth factors for survival.
Bacterial Toxins
- Exotoxins and endotoxins influence pathogenicity, with each having distinct mechanisms that can affect host cells.
Cell Wall Differences
- Gram-positive bacteria possess thick peptidoglycan layers, while gram-negative bacteria have a thin layer and an outer membrane.
Organisms without Cell Walls
- Mycoplasma species lack cell walls.
Mycobacterial Cell Walls
- Mycobacteria have complex cell walls rich in mycolic acids.
Staining Techniques
- Gram-positive bacteria stain violet; gram-negative bacteria stain pink.
- The order of stains in gram staining includes crystal violet, gram's iodine, decolorizer, and safranin.
Heat Fixing Purpose
- Heat fixing preserves cells on a slide, preventing wash-off during staining procedures.
Acid Fast Staining
- Hot methods maintain structural integrity for acid-fast bacteria, while cold methods favor rapid tests.
Fluorescent Stains
- Specific fluorescent stains are used for fungi, cell-wall-deficient bacteria, acid-fast bacteria, and others to identify pathogens.
Negative Stain
- Nigrosin is a common negative stain used for encapsulated organisms, such as Bacillus anthracis.
Staining Results
- Positive results for various stains yield distinct appearances, including fluorescence or color changes indicating successful identification of specific organisms.
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Description
This quiz covers essential knowledge regarding microbiology safety practices and regulations. Participants will need to identify organizations that regulate employee safety, measures for ensuring safety, types of personal protective equipment (PPE), and protocols for handling potential infections. Test your understanding of the critical safety requirements in the microbiology laboratory setting.
