During January 2013 I had my very first encounter with Staphylocococcus aureus. At the time I did not even know about this bacteria or what it did. Within the next two weeks I became very informed about the bacteria. I learnt what it looked like under a microscope, that it is a Gram-positive bacterium, the infections caused by it, how it is transmitted and how to prevent suffering from it.
My encounter occurred at home with a relative.
January 15, 2013
A small bump on upper thigh was noticed when it started itching. It gradually began to feel sore.
January 16, 2013
Bump was inflamed, painful and made buttocks swollen. Felt very warm when touched. The patient was also feeling very drowsy, weak and out of sorts. She was also running a 102 degrees Fahrenheit fever.
January 17, 2013
The feelings from the previous day got worse. The once small bump was now a wide hard area.
January 18, 2013
Fever and chills went away and the swelling continued. It was now too painful to do any of her daily chores and activities properly.
January 19, 2013
Symptoms got worse. The fever returned. Patient was unable to bear the pain anymore, so she decided to go to the hospital. She was attended to by several nurses and one doctor. The doctor gave her a numbing injection then squeezed the inflamed area. A lot of pus was found in the area. The female was admitted with a suspicion for cellulitis.
January 27 - 30, 2013
Patient was treated intravenously with antibiotics, to fight the infection; pain killers, to relieve the intense pain, and fluids, to eliminate the fever. The wound was allowed to drain gradually and dressed regularly. The puss was again tested.
The bacteria Staphylococcus aureus was found in the pus taken from the wound.
January 30, 2013
Patient was discharged from the hospital with prescribed antibiotics, pain killers and antiemetics.
She had to take sick leave from work for two weeks to allow her wound to heal, since she could not sit or walk properly because of where it was located.
This encounter has made me very aware of my surroundings and somewhat terrified of touching surfaces. I have always known bacteria were real and could cause very serious illnesses, but seeing the effects happen in my personal space has made me even more aware. Coincidentally, this encountered occurred at the same time I was learning about Staphylococcus aureus in my microbiology class.
I could not have asked for a more practical application to my studies. Even though I am very saddened by the pain and agony my relative suffered, I am happy to see first hand the effects of Staphylococcus aureus. This knowledge will be applied to my medical career and to my microbiology class.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
MicroJournal Entry #4 - Dictionary
Classification of microbes based on:
Photoautotroph - organisms which use carbon dioxide as a carbon source and light energy from the environment to make their own food. Example: plants and algae.
Chemoautotroph - organisms which use carbon dioxide as a carbon source but catabolize organic molecules for energy. Example: Rhizobium
Photoheterotroph - are photosynthetic organisms that acquire energy from light and acquire nutrients via catabolism of organic compounds. Example: Heliobacteria
Chemoheterotroph - organisms which use organic compounds for both energy and carbon. Example: Salmonella
Psychrophiles - microbes which require temperatures below 20°C for optimum growth. Example: Anthrobacter sp.
Mesophiles - microbes which grow best at temperatures ranging between about 20°C and 40°C. Example: Staphylococcus aureus
Thermophiles - microbes which require temperatures above 45°C for maximum growth. Example: Rhizomucor pusillus
Hyperthermophiles - microbes that require temperatures above 80°C for optimum growth. Example: Aquifex aeolicus
- Carbon and Energy Source
Photoautotroph - organisms which use carbon dioxide as a carbon source and light energy from the environment to make their own food. Example: plants and algae.
Chemoautotroph - organisms which use carbon dioxide as a carbon source but catabolize organic molecules for energy. Example: Rhizobium
Photoheterotroph - are photosynthetic organisms that acquire energy from light and acquire nutrients via catabolism of organic compounds. Example: Heliobacteria
Chemoheterotroph - organisms which use organic compounds for both energy and carbon. Example: Salmonella
- Temperature Requirements
Psychrophiles - microbes which require temperatures below 20°C for optimum growth. Example: Anthrobacter sp.
Thermophiles - microbes which require temperatures above 45°C for maximum growth. Example: Rhizomucor pusillus
Hyperthermophiles - microbes that require temperatures above 80°C for optimum growth. Example: Aquifex aeolicus
Thursday, February 7, 2013
MicroJournal Entry #3 - Encounter
While visiting a close family friend, over the Christmas break, I noticed that all four of her children were sneezing and showed signs of stuffiness. The parents, Mike* and Angie* were not suffering like their kids. This made me very curious and so I asked Angie how come all the children were stuffy and sneezing but she and Mike weren't. Angie was not 100% sure, but she believed her kids got something from a friend at school. In my mind I wondered, "why haven't you or Mike caught it from them?"
My curiosity continued to grow and I could not figure out the exact reason behind this mystery. In Microbiology class this semester, I have learnt about microorganisms, such as viruses and bacteria. A virus, orthomyxoviridae, causes influenza in humans. The virus is easily spread from one person to another. This may be the virus the children mentioned above had. Angie and Mike must have been immune to it because of antibodies in their systems. As I continue to learn, I will understand how antibodies work to fight off infections. For now, I'm very happy to have learnt such valuable information and look forward to that which is ahead.
Everyday we are exposed to microorganisms but we don't always know it. They are far too small to be visible to our human eyes. Some are helpful to us, others are not.
(*Names changed to protect the privacy of my friends.)
My curiosity continued to grow and I could not figure out the exact reason behind this mystery. In Microbiology class this semester, I have learnt about microorganisms, such as viruses and bacteria. A virus, orthomyxoviridae, causes influenza in humans. The virus is easily spread from one person to another. This may be the virus the children mentioned above had. Angie and Mike must have been immune to it because of antibodies in their systems. As I continue to learn, I will understand how antibodies work to fight off infections. For now, I'm very happy to have learnt such valuable information and look forward to that which is ahead.
Everyday we are exposed to microorganisms but we don't always know it. They are far too small to be visible to our human eyes. Some are helpful to us, others are not.
(*Names changed to protect the privacy of my friends.)
Friday, February 1, 2013
MicroJournal Entry #2 - Dictionary
Protozoa
Single-celled eukaryotes that are similar to animals in their nutritional needs and cellular structures. They are usually found in water.
Glycocalyx
Sticky external layer of polysaccarides, polypeptides or both, which surrounds some cells. There are two types - slime layer and capsule
Fimbriae
Extensions of some bacterial cells that function along with glycocalyces to adhere cells to each other and to environmental surfaces.
Hypertonic Solutions
These are solutions with a higher concentration of solutes than water. Cells in them become shriveled.
Hypotonic Solutions
These are the opposite of hypertonic solutions. They contain a higher concentration of water molecules than solutes. Cells suspended in them will expand and eventually burst.
Single-celled eukaryotes that are similar to animals in their nutritional needs and cellular structures. They are usually found in water.
Glycocalyx
Sticky external layer of polysaccarides, polypeptides or both, which surrounds some cells. There are two types - slime layer and capsule
Fimbriae
Extensions of some bacterial cells that function along with glycocalyces to adhere cells to each other and to environmental surfaces.
Hypertonic Solutions
These are solutions with a higher concentration of solutes than water. Cells in them become shriveled.
Hypotonic Solutions
These are the opposite of hypertonic solutions. They contain a higher concentration of water molecules than solutes. Cells suspended in them will expand and eventually burst.
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