Microbiology Terms Med Lab

Spirochetes

motile bacteria with a helical or spiral shape

Zone of inhibition

in the antibiotic susceptibility test, the area around an antibiotic disk that contains no bacterial growth

varicella

chickenpox

Fomites

inanimate objects, such as bed rails, linens, or eating utensils, that may be contaminated with infectious organisms and serve as a means of their transmission

Isolation

practice of limiting the movement and social contact of a patient who is potentially infectious or who must be protected from exposure to infectious agents

Protective isolation

reverse isolation; an isolation category designed to protect highly susceptible patients from exposure to infectious agents

Aseptic technique

measures used to prevent contamination when working with microorganism

HEPA filter

high-efficiency particulate air filter used in biological safety cabinets

Indicator Medium

bacteriological medium that detects certain chemical reactions of organisms growing on it; differential medium

Inoculating Loop

instrument used to pick up and transfer bacteria

Inoculation

process of transferring from one medium to another

Inoculum

process of transferring a population of microorganisms to a growth medium

Mycoplasma

tiny microorganisms lacking a rigid cell wall

Primary Medium

medium that provides nutritional requirements for an organism and is used to recover the organism from infectious material

Quadrant

one-fourth of a circle; one- fourth of an agar plate

Transport medium

medium that provides the proper environment for organisms during transport to the laboratory

Selective medium

bacteriological medium that allows growth of some organisms while inhibiting growth of others

fossae

in the throat, shallow depressions where the tonsils were located before surgical removal

coliform

certain gram-negative intestinal bacteria including Escherichia coli

colony count

method of estimating the number of organisms in urine by counting the colonies on a urine culture plate

Candida albicans

fungus that causes vaginitis in females, especially following antibiotic therapy for bacterial infections

Chlamydia-

gram-negative intracellular bacteria; Chlamydia trachomatis is a cause of STDs

Nongonococcal Urethritis

- gonorrhea-like STD caused by organisms other than gonococci

Trichomoniasis

sexually transmitted infection of the genitourinary tract caused by the parasitic protozoan, Trichomonas vaginalis

Venereal

having to do with, or transmitted by, sexual contact

Antibiotic susceptibility testing

determining the susceptibility of microorganisms to specific antibiotics

Bacillus

rod shaped bacterium

Coccus

spherical bacterium

Colony

defined mass of bacteria assumed to have grown from a single organism

Communicable

able to be transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual to another

Culture

growth of microorganisms in a special medium; the process of growing microorganisms in the laboratory

DNA

nucleic acid found primarily in the nucleus of all living cells that carries genetic information; deoxyribonucleic acid

Fastidious Organism

organism that requires special nutritional factors to survive

Fission

asexual reproduction of a microorganism

Formalin

solution of formaldehyde used as a fixative or preservative

Gram-negative

designation for bacteria that lose the crystal violet (purple stain) and retain the safranin (red stain) in the Gram stain procedure

Bibulous Paper

special absorbent paper used to dry slides

Counterstain

dye that adds a contrasting color

Mordant

substance that fixes a dye or stain to an object