Microbiology 101
At it's purest microbiology is the study of these?
What are microorganisms?
"Little beasties"
What are bacteria?
These are the smallest infectious agents and must reproduce inside living host cells.
What are viruses?
This is the route through which a pathogen enters the body.
What is a portal of entry?
This process destroys all living microorganisms.
What is sterilization?
These microorganisms normally live in or on the body without causing disease.
What is normal flora?
These are the three basic shapes used to classify bacteria.
What are cocci, bacilli, and curved rods?
Yeasts and molds belong to this group of microorganisms.
What are fungi?
A mosquito carrying a pathogen from one host to another is an example of this.
What is a vector?
This common practice helps prevent the spread of microorganisms between patients.
What is handwashing (hand hygiene)?
This is the period between exposure to a pathogen and the development of symptoms.
What is the incubation period?
This rigid outer structure protects a bacterial cell from bursting.
What is the cell wall?
These single-celled, animal-like microorganisms include the organism that causes malaria.
What are protozoa?
This term describes an infection acquired in a hospital or healthcare facility.
What is a nosocomial infection?
This laboratory procedure allows pathogens to grow so they can be identified.
What is a culture?
This is the term for a disease acquired by many people in a given area over a short period.
What is an epidemic?
These structures allow certain bacteria to survive harsh conditions by remaining dormant.
What are spores?
Athlete's foot, ringworm, and thrush are examples of infections caused by this group.
What are fungi?
A person becomes ill after touching a contaminated object and then touching their mouth. This is an example of this type of transmission.
What is indirect transmission?
This laboratory test helps determine which antibiotics are effective against a particular pathogen.
What is a culture and sensitivity test?
This is the term for a worldwide epidemic.
What is a pandemic?
This type of bacterium retains the purple stain during the Gram-staining procedure.
What is a Gram-positive bacterium?
These larger, multicellular parasites include tapeworms and roundworms.
What are worms (helminths)?
A pathogen normally found in the large intestine enters the urinary bladder and causes an infection. This illustrates how normal flora can become this.
What is pathogenic (or disease-causing)?
A healthcare worker fails to wash their hands after examining an infected patient and then examines another patient. This is the important infection-control practice being neglected.
What is hand hygiene between patients?