Unknown Microorganism
Sarah Helms
Thursday/ 11:15am
#1
Escherichia coli
There are many types of microorganisms and ways to treat each one. Knowing the differences of each is vital to treat a patient correctly. The purpose of this report is to explain the process and steps used to identify a certain microorganism referred to as the unknown.
Materials and Methods A test tube with an unknown microorganism will be retrieved. Once the test tube is retrieved, a steak for isolation will be completed in order to produce isolated colonies of the organism on an agar plate. The unknown test tube with the bacteria is flame sterilized using a Bunsen burner. Once the bacterium test tube has been flame sterilized, a flame sterilized inoculating loop will be used to gather …show more content…
The streak for isolation was chosen to see the formation of the different colonies and to see if the bacteria would cause growth on the plate. After observing the plate, it could be seen that the unknown had growth and formation of colonies. The Gram stain was chosen next to determine if the unknown was gram-negative or gram-positive. After looking at the gram stain under the microscope with the oil immersion it could be determined that the unknown was gram-negative due to the fact that the bacteria was pink in color and rod shaped. After determining the unknown was gram-negative, other bacteria’s were able to be eliminated from the options. The Triple Sugar Iron Test was chosen next because the unknown could be tested for glucose fermentation, lactose fermentation, sucrose fermentation and sulfur reduction. If the organism is able to ferment glucose and lactose and/or sucrose it will turn the medium yellow throughout (Leboffe & Burton 329). When the Triple Sugar Iron Test was complete, it showed a yellow butt, yellow slant and gas production. This determined that the unknown ferments glucose and one or both of the other sugars. The gas was produced by fermentation. The color change in the agar brought the unknown down to two options of unknowns, Escherichia coli or Hafnia alvei. The SIM medium test was chosen next to see sulfur reduction, indole production from tryptophan …show more content…
Most types of Escherichia coli are harmless and are actually a part of a healthy human intestinal tract but some are pathogenic. It can be transmitted multiple ways; fecal-oral route, fecal contamination of water, food or fomites, poor sanitation and hygiene (General Microbiology Fact Sheet). A person can show signs and symptoms of Escherichia coli which include fever, bloody diarrhea, may result in hypotension with severe toxemia. The incubation period is 12-72 hours. Knowing the steps and process of finding an unknown is helpful when it comes to the different types of bacteria’s and which are harmful to the body and how to treat
Thursday/ 11:15am
#1
Escherichia coli
There are many types of microorganisms and ways to treat each one. Knowing the differences of each is vital to treat a patient correctly. The purpose of this report is to explain the process and steps used to identify a certain microorganism referred to as the unknown.
Materials and Methods A test tube with an unknown microorganism will be retrieved. Once the test tube is retrieved, a steak for isolation will be completed in order to produce isolated colonies of the organism on an agar plate. The unknown test tube with the bacteria is flame sterilized using a Bunsen burner. Once the bacterium test tube has been flame sterilized, a flame sterilized inoculating loop will be used to gather …show more content…
The streak for isolation was chosen to see the formation of the different colonies and to see if the bacteria would cause growth on the plate. After observing the plate, it could be seen that the unknown had growth and formation of colonies. The Gram stain was chosen next to determine if the unknown was gram-negative or gram-positive. After looking at the gram stain under the microscope with the oil immersion it could be determined that the unknown was gram-negative due to the fact that the bacteria was pink in color and rod shaped. After determining the unknown was gram-negative, other bacteria’s were able to be eliminated from the options. The Triple Sugar Iron Test was chosen next because the unknown could be tested for glucose fermentation, lactose fermentation, sucrose fermentation and sulfur reduction. If the organism is able to ferment glucose and lactose and/or sucrose it will turn the medium yellow throughout (Leboffe & Burton 329). When the Triple Sugar Iron Test was complete, it showed a yellow butt, yellow slant and gas production. This determined that the unknown ferments glucose and one or both of the other sugars. The gas was produced by fermentation. The color change in the agar brought the unknown down to two options of unknowns, Escherichia coli or Hafnia alvei. The SIM medium test was chosen next to see sulfur reduction, indole production from tryptophan …show more content…
Most types of Escherichia coli are harmless and are actually a part of a healthy human intestinal tract but some are pathogenic. It can be transmitted multiple ways; fecal-oral route, fecal contamination of water, food or fomites, poor sanitation and hygiene (General Microbiology Fact Sheet). A person can show signs and symptoms of Escherichia coli which include fever, bloody diarrhea, may result in hypotension with severe toxemia. The incubation period is 12-72 hours. Knowing the steps and process of finding an unknown is helpful when it comes to the different types of bacteria’s and which are harmful to the body and how to treat