What is medical microbiology?
The biology behind infection- when a contaminant enters a biological system.
What are the categories of micro-organism that cause infection?
Bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and prions.
What are the eukaryotic/prokaryotic causes of infection?
Eukaryotic: parasites/fungi
Prokaryotic: bacteria
Unspecified: viruses/prions
What is the difference between sterile and non-sterile sites?
Samples from sterile sites should not show infection.
What are the sterile sites in the body?
Blood, bone marrow, cerebrospinal fluid, bladder
What are the unsterile sites in the body?
Skin, nasopharynx, urethra and gut
What common specimen types are taken to diagnose infection?
Sputum, swabs, mid-stream urine, faeces, blood cultures and cerebrospinal fluid.
What else can be used to test for infection?
Microscopy
What is light microscopy used to test for?
Bacterial infection
Can viruses be seen in light microscopy?
No.
What can unstained microscopy test for?
WBC count and parasites
What can stained microscopy utilise?
Gram stains- indication of gram positive/gram negative bacteria
How are viruses detected?
Molecular methods such as real time/multiplex PCR
Immunity can also be tested through antigen detection and serology.
How are parasites detected?
Study of life cycles and reference laboratories
