Khokana Outbreak Paper

Proper collection of blood cultures are necessary and the most direct method of determining whether or not a patient is septic. The purpose of obtaining blood cultures is to identify and isolate the bacteria that are causing an illness and then determine the best course of treatment based on the sensitivity of the bacteria to particular antibiotics. One of the most frustrating problems plaguing hospitals is the increased rate at which blood culture results are being returned as contaminated specimens. These results can lead to a significant increase in cost to the hospital and patient as well as an increased length in hospital

These microorganisms are transmitted from poor hand hygiene from health care workers to patients as well as touching of contaminated equipment and environmental surfaces. Microorganisms are most commonly introduced to susceptible sites such as open wounds or other portals of entry by contaminated hands. Infection leads to adverse clinical outcomes and can directly threat patient recovery.

Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) affect over 1.7 million patients each year, causing almost 100,000 deaths annually in the United States alone (Johnson, 2010). According to the World Health Organization, HAIs are the most frequent adverse event in the healthcare industry. Fortunately, most of these infections can be prevented with one single intervention, proper hand hygiene (“The Evidence,” n.d.). Four out of five pathogens that cause illness are spread by direct contact. Proper hand hygiene eliminates these pathogens and helps to prevent cross-contamination and HAIs (Linton, 2015; “Hand Hygiene,” n.d.). Reduction of cross-contamination and HAIs improves patient outcomes, increases employee wellness, and lowers health care costs. Adherence to proper hand hygiene is the single most important safety measure in the health care setting. However, for many years compliance to proper hand hygiene in the healthcare industry has been dismally low. New and inventive measures must be implemented to increase compliance to proper hand hygiene and lower the rate of hospital-acquired infections.

This experiment was conducted to find the genus and species of an unknown bacteria prescribed by the lab teacher, which was unknown bacteria GA3 in my case. Identification of unknown bacteria techniques are used on an every day basis to figure out what type of bacteria it is and to find the best method of how to treat a patient with this bacteria (1). All five “I’s” of Microbiology were used in the testing for the unknown culture. Inoculation was used several times to put the unknown culture into agar plates or into biochemical test tubes. After Inoculation of these tubes or plates, they always were placed into the incubator for further growth and development. Isolation was used to make sure we got the correct bacteria we were testing for. After each further isolation, we gram stained the culture and inspected the culture under a microscope to further help in the identification process of the unknown bacteria. Multiple tests were done on the unknown culture to make sure we were confident in what kind of bacteria the unknown was.

Bacteria are ubiquitous; they can be found on the skin, in the soil, and inside the body. Because of the very nature of this ubiquity, it is important to be able to determine between different strains of bacteria. An example of this is determining the causative agent for a disease so that the patient will be treated with the appropriate antibiotics. It may be important to determine the bacteria in a certain region, because like with enteric bacteria, it is normal to find them in the digestive tract as they are in a symbiotic relationship with our bodies in this area; however, they also cause opportunistic infections in places outside of the digestive tract to our detriment, such as with a urinary tract infection. Some strains of bacteria are common to nosocomial infections, and identifying these bacteria as such helps create the guidelines for healthcare workers in antiseptic technique. All of the morphology and characteristics of each strain of bacteria help us to better understand the role of bacteria in the body as well as helps us understand how they can cause illness, and what treatment regimen to set in place. In lab this semester, a sample of unknown

Germs and many other diseases spread primarily through airborne particles, skin to skin contact, and or touching objects such as door handles, hospital buttons, or by sharing patient possessions. Nurses and other health care clinicians are constantly in physical contact with many different patients, who all have varying illness’ and diseases themselves. Many may also carry a

The gram stain test was able to identify the bacterium as a gram-positive organism, and the morphology distinguished it as a strain of streptococcus, and these finds helped direct the other tests. Hemolytic tests are very useful in differentiating specific species of a certain family of bacteria. The hemolytic test showed the bacterium to be of alpha clearing, which meant it only partially lysed the red blood cells and left a greenish tint. This identified the bacterium as either strep pneumoniae or faecalis. The bacitracin test, which tests whether the bacterium is susceptible to the antibiotics in the disk, posted a positive

In the world of microbiology it is vitally important to be able to discern the identities of microorganisms. Not only is it important in a lab setting but as well as in healthcare in general. Properly identify what strain of bacteria a person has will aid in the proper medicine and dose given. Throughout the semester we have learned about different types of bacteria and certain test that can clearly identify them. The purpose of this lab report is to identify a Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacterium. Using all the knowledge of procedures and lab techniques identify the unknown and discuss all the tests you performed.

Weston, D., & Ebrary. (2008). Infection prevention and control: Theory and clinical practice for healthcare professionals. Hoboken, NJ;Chichester, England;: John Wiley & Sons.

The organism adheres to the epithelial cells in its host by pilli. This opportunistic pathogen can affect people of all ages and specifically targets patients that have immune deficiencies, debilitating diseases, and infants in the NICU. Patients are at greater risk of contracting the organism if they have recently had a surgery, mechanical ventilation, central venous catheter, arterial catheterization, inhalation medication therapy, tracheal tubes, or have low apgar scores. It can cause a variety of diseases and infections such as urinary tract infections, meningitis, pneumonia, respiratory tract infections, keratoconjunctivitis, osteomyelitis, keratitis, endocarditis, cutaneous infections, and endophthalmitis. (Currey,

In conclusion, after conducting previously mentioned biochemical tests in order to identify the unknown bacteria, became obvious that unknown gram negative was Proteus Vulgaris. Having eliminated all the bacteria that didn’t show expected results and confirming with such tests as catalase, glucose, indole, citrate, urea, and SIM, it was accurate to name the unknown gram negative. Furthermore, gram positive became obvious it was Streptococcus Pneumoniae. Having eliminated all the bacteria that didn’t show expected results and confirming with such tests as blood agar, catalase, and optochin and bacitracin tests, it was accurate to name the unknown gram positive. I have learned that it is extremely important to be to able to identify what kind

Bacteria, single-cell microorganisms, are found all over the planet. Some can be beneficial to their enviroment, while others can be pathogenic. Enterococcus faecalis is a resilient bacterium that resides in the intestinal tract of humans and mammals. Due to their ability to colonize at a rapid rate, E. faecalis cause a multitude of infections. To determine an unknown bacteria, one gram stain and two biochemical tests, a catalase and RBC hemolysis test, were performed. The gram stain showed gram-positive cocci bacteria, which lead to the catalase test. The test for

The purpose of this project was to identify the identities of two unknown bacteria in a mixed broth culture by using several separation methods. To separate the organisms, a four-way streak plate technique was used to isolate the two unknown bacteria into separate visible colonies. Then after each colony were clearly isolated; the two unknowns were processed through Gram staining test to determine the Gram stain and morphology. After Gram staining, a carbohydrate test was performed on each unknown to determine if it had glucose, sucrose, or lactose fermentation. The results of the sugar test help determining which biochemical test should be performed next. The Gram positive organism was tested through a carbohydrate fermentation test, then further tested to confirm its identity through an indole and catalase test. The Gram negative organism was tested through carbohydrate fermentation test, then further tested to confirmed its identity through an indole, and TSIA test. After running four biochemical tests, the results conclude that the Gram positive unknown was Staphylococcus aureus. S. aureus was identified based on the fermentation results of the glucose test, negative indole test, and a positive catalase production. S. aureus is a Gram positive circular shaped bacterium that is very common in the U.S and is normally found in the nose, respiratory tract, and on the skin. This bacterium is usually the most common cause of infections after injury or surgery.

Conclusion: The first two tests performed required that I streak the liquid culture onto a TSA plate in order to isolate individual colonies. The second involved performing a successful gram stain, which resulted in gram positive staphylococci. After successfully performing these tests I was able to narrow down

Candida auris is becoming responsible for the cause of fungal infection in healthcare facilities. Fungus likes to grow in warm moist areas. Research has shown that hospital sinks are positive for Candida auris due to patient nurse contact. On these surfaces certain Candida can live 14-28 days outside of their host. With this occurrence, it is more likely for this Candida auris to be transferred to different hosts daily. With patients already weakened immune system, makes them a susceptible host for this infection possibly making their stay at the hospital longer. (Welsha, Bentz, Lyons, 2017,