MicroJournal Entry #9 - Dictionary

Antisepsis - reduction in the number of micro-organisms and viruses, particularly potential pathogens on living tissue.

Example: Alcohol

Degerming - removal of microbes by mechanical means.

Example: Hand washing

Disinfection - destruction of most microrganisms and viruses on nonliving tissue.

Example: Phenolics - Lysol

Sanitization - removal of pathogens from objects to meet public health standards.

Example: Dishwashing with hot water.

MicroJournal Entry #8 - investigations

I was talking to one of my classmate who was explaining to me about her previous experience with fungal infection and so I decided to do my research on how to prevent fungal infection. The way she described her experience make me want to avoid getting in contact with it!

Step 1:Prevent the spread of athletes foot. Athletes foot is also known as "tinea". It is probably the most commonly known fungal infection and the one most likely to bother you at some point in your life. Signs of athletes foot include: whitened skin, skin cracks and peels easily, itchiness may be present, there may be an unpleasant odor and in severe cases, it can burn and sting.

• Wear footwear such as flip flops or Crocs™ when using public bathing facilities (showers, saunas, etc.) and when walking around public pool areas.
• When wearing shoes again make sure that it is dry
• Do not urinate when in the shower or bath. This can weaken the skin's resistance to fungal infections.
• If you already have athletes foot, wash thoroughly, dry well but don't rub too hard. Try to give your feet "air time" without socks and shoes during the day. Wash socks daily and wear different shoes on alternate days. 

Step 2:Prevent nail or skin infections like ringworm. Ringworm isn't actually a worm although the name causes many people to assume such––it is simply a round rash that forms on the skin that has a scaly edge (perhaps a little like the edge of a worm) and a clear center. Ringworm can appear on your arms, legs, face, scalp, stomach and back.

Keep your pets clean, regularly wormed and de-flea-ed and washed. Ringworm infection is often transferred from cats and dogs. If you think your pets might be infected, take them to the vet for a check-up.

Don't scratch fungal infections––this will often spread the infection across your skin.

Step 3: Prevent scalp infections. As already noted, it is possible to have ringworm on the scalp. Scalp infections tend to be more common in children than in adults.

• Avoid or control dandruff. Dandruff flakes can very easily be passed from one person to another.
• Avoid sharing hair brushes, pillows, hair clips and other hair accessories used by others.
• Ensure that pillow cases and sheets are washed at least once in two weeks (this is also important for killing dust mites and bacteria from your skin and mouth). Regular washing of the pillow cases and sheets will help you maintain clear and healthy looking skin––the build-up of germs you lie on aren't doing your skin any favors.

Step 4:Don't share clothing. Any type of fungal infection can be spread through sharing clothing

 with an infected person (or from you if you're infected). This means declining offers to wear someone else's hat, shoes, t-shirt, etc. and not offering to share your clothing when you're experiencing a current infection. If you do need to share clothing (after all, something borrowed, something blue will inevitably come up for some of you), make sure it is cleaned properly or dry-cleaned before sharing.
http://m.wikihow.com/Prevent-the-Spread-of-Fungal-Infections

MicroJournal Entry #7 - Investigations

This article speaks about a recent case in which a baby is allegedly cured of HIV. The baby was born prematurely in rural Mississippi in fall 2010 was given a three drug regimen 30 hours after birth. This treatment was aimed at treatment and not prophylaxis. While under treatment for eighteen months the baby's virus levels remained undetectable. The mother then stopped giving the child medicine and stopped going to the hospital for check ups. When both mother and child visited the hospital five months later, there was no trace of the virus in the baby's tests. Fearing laboratory errors, the tests were done again and no viable virus was found anywhere, not even reservoirs of the body.

I believe this article is from a reliable source. It is written by authors with experience in the field of science. I am excited at the possible cure looming on the horizon. It would be great if this is an actual cure for the HIV virus and lives could be saved. 

Citation:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/04/health/for-first-time-baby-cured-of-hiv-doctors-say.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Pollack, A., & Jr., D. M. (2013, March 3). Baby With H.I.V. Is Reported Cured - NYTimes.com. The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. Retrieved March 8, 2013, from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/04/health/for-first-time-baby-cured-of-hiv-doctors-say.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

MicroJournal Entry #6 - Reflection

Today marks the completion of two months of Microbiology class. Over the past two months I have learnt useful information about microbes, their eating habits, metabolism, cell composition, and much more. I am learning a lot about the different ways of differentiating microbes such as using selective, differential and enrichment media. These techniques used by medical professionals everyday, as they encounter different illnesses in patients. 

I know this class and the information I've learnt from it, will be useful to me in my future career. For the immediate future, this class will be very useful when I begin my nursing program next semester. The experience gained here will help me as I do my clinicals and in the classrooms. What is taught in class does not conflict with any other classes I have taken but now I have a better understanding of diseases and what makes them affect us the way they do. It was also interesting to learn that antibiotics are most effective against microbes in the lag stage. 

I tend to sit in the front row during classes because I am a visual learner but I am open to all learning styles. Sitting up front prevents me from becoming too distracted in class. Labs also give me the hands-on approach and cements the information in my mind. One thing which is still somewhat confusing, though, is the protein synthesis process. I sometimes get the stages mixed. If there were a way to see bacteria undergoing protein synthesis, that would clarify the process for me. I no longer think of bacteria as a simple organism. I now understand they are unique and have special traits which differentiate them. As mentioned in my previous post, this class has positively impacted my life, especially since the experience my relative had.