Chapter 4 - Microbiology for Sterile Processing Technicians

Microbiology

The study of microorganisms. The scientific study of the nature, life and action of microorganisms

Contamination

The state of being soiled by contact with infectious organisms or other materials

Pathogen

Capable of producing disease

Micron

1/25,000 of an inch or 1/1,000 of a millimeter

Aerobic

Requiring the presence of air of free oxygen

Anaaerobic

Bacteria that can live in the absence of atmospheric oxygen

Endospores (spores)

Microorganisms capable of forming a thick wall around themselves enabling them to survive in adverse conditions; a resistant form of bacterium.

Gram Stain

Differential stain used to classify bacteria as a gram positive gram negative, depending on whether they retain or lose the primary stain (crystal violet) when subjected to a decolonizing agent

pH

Measure of alkalinity or acidity on a scale of 0 to 14; pH 7 is neutral (neither acid or alkaline); pH below 7 is acid; ph above 7 is alkaline

Vegetative Stage

State of active growth of microorganisms (as opposed to the resting or spore stages)

Binary Fission

The typical method of bacterial reproduction in which a cell divides into two equal parts.

Prion

An infectious protein particle that, unlike a virus, contains no nucleus acid, does not trigger an immune response, and is not destroyed by extreme heat or cold

Microscope

Microorganisms are tiny organisms that can only be seen with a

Organisms

Cells are the basic units of all living

Plants, Animals, Protozoa, Bacteria

Name all living organisms

They have no membrane to separate the nucleus from the cytoplasm

Bacterial cells differ from both plant and animal cells because

Harmless

Many microorganisms, or microbes are

95%

What percentage of bacteria are beneficial and essential

Microns

Bacteria are measured by

Microns

Most bacteria are one to two what in size

Producing powerful toxins that interfere with how body systems work

Pathogens cause disease by

Overwhelm body systems or cause tissue to degenerate

Pathogens have uncontrolled reproduction that can

Blood, lungs (pneumonia) or other parts of the body after surgery

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa can cause infections in

Can cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness, and pneumonia

Escherichia coli (E. Coli)

- Spherical

- Rod

- Spiral

The most common shapes of bacteria

Coccus

Spherical bacteria is also known as

Bacillus

Rod bacteria is also known as

Spirilla

Spiral bacteria is also known as

Spherical Bacteria - Coccus

These bacteria are shaped like a circle or sphere

Rod Bacteria - Bacillus

These bacteria are shaped like rods or bricks

Spiral Bacteria - Spirilla

These bacteria are shaped like spirals

Endospores (spores)

Develops a thick coat around the cells nucleus when conditions requires for growth are not adequate

Highly resistant to disinfection and other conditions, such as heat, making them very difficult to kill

Endospores (Spores)

1. Place specimen on a slide that is first stained crystal violet

2. It is then stained with iodine

3. Discolored using alcohol or acetone

4. Stained with safranin

What are the 4 steps of the Gram staining process

Gram-negative bacteria

This bacteria have an outer membrane that will not retain the purple stain after treatment with iodine; instead, they will stain pink

Gram-positive bacteria

This bacteria have no outer membrane and will retain the purple stain, even if a decolorizer is used

Nutritional needs, temperature, moisture/humidity, pH and light

Suitable environments for bacteria can be broken down into

Their specific nutritional needs can be met

Pathogenic bacteria are most likely to thrive where their

59 F to 68 F

15 C to 20 C

Some bacteria like cold temperatures like:

68 F to 113 F

20 C to 45 C

Some bacteria like moderate temperatures like:

122 F to 158 F

50 C to 70 C

Some bacteria like warm temperatures like:

Moderate Temperature

Bacteria pathogenic to humans prefer what type of temperature?

The growth and survival of microorganisms

Moisture and relative humidity play a major role in:

Dark conditions

What condition is favorable to the growth of bacteria?

Sunlight

What condition is lethal to the growth of organisms in their actively growing or vegetative stage?

Sunlight

When spores of gram positive bacilli are in a resting stage, they are most resistant to

Ultraviolet light

The most lethal light to spores of gram positive bacilli is

Binary fission

Microorganisms reproduce every 20 minutes (approximately) in a process called

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Lives on the skin and is known for causing server infections. Spread by direct contact with and infected individual or by touching contaminated surfaces

Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE)

Lives in the bowels. This bacterium is transmitted when hands become contaminated from infected feces, urine or blood

Vancomycin Resistant Streptococcus Pneumonia

Causes pneumonia in susceptible humans. Strep is transmitted through direct contact with infected droplets from coughing or sneezing or from contact with infected fluids

Klebsiella

Can be found on hands and in the intestinal tract. This bacterium causes pneumonia, nasal infections, urinary tract infections (UTI), wound, and bloodstream infections.

Ancinetobacter

Normally found in soil. This bacterium can cause various illnesses ranging from pneumonia to serious blood or wound infections, and the symptoms vary depending on the disease. Can be resistant to many of today's antibiotics.

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa

Found in water and in soil. Pseudomonas infections include UTIs, respiratory system infectious, dermatitis, soft tissue infections, bacteremia, bone and joint infections, gastrointestinal infections, and a variety of systemic infections

Carbapanem resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)

A family of germs that are difficult to treat because they have high levels of antibiotic resistance. These nfections have been associated with devices such as flexible endoscopes and ventilators. Some CRE infections are very difficult to treat and can contribute to death in up to 50% of patients who become infected.

Viruses

The smallest microorganisms and are about 1,000 times smaller than bacteria

Reproduces itself within the cell

A virus enters a living plant or animal cell and:

- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

- Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)

- Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)

In the healthcare setting several bloodborne viral pathogens are of significance:

-Chickenpox (varicella)

-Shingles (zoster)

-Measles (rubeola)

-Influenza

-Common cold

Viruses are transmitted primarily by the airborne or droplet route and include:

The filovirus species

Ebola virus is viral disease cause by

Acute viral gastroenteritis such as rotavirus, norovirus and noro like virus

Viruses transmitted by contaminated water or food include those that cause

Food

Feces

Fingers

Files

Bacterial infections spread through the four Fs

Hepatitis A

Another virus spread by food or water is

Unwashed hands or eating raw or improperly cooked food

Hepatitis A is contracted by

Direct contact

Indirect contact

Airborne

Droplet routes

Covid 19 can be transmitted through

Protozoa

One celled animal organisms that vary widely in size and shape and contain no cell walls

Moist habitats and are aerobic

Most Protozoa live in what type is habitat?

Anaerobic

Some Protozoa species found in the human intestines are

Fungi

A large group of plant like organisms that include molds, mushrooms and yeasts

Aerobic

Are most fungi aerobic or anaerobic?

Fungi's major role

Turn dead organic matter into usable substances through decay and mildew

Fungi's major role

To have mutually symbiotic relationships with other organisms

Fungi's major role

To be parasitic or pathogenic to plants or animals

Superficial fungi

Some fungi target the skin, hair, nails and mucosal surfaces and are called

Ringworm of the scalp, athletes foot, candida, such as thrush and vulvovaginitis

Common examples of superficial fungi are

Transmissible and able to induce abnormal folding of specific normal cellular proteins

Prions are abnormal pathogenic agents that are

The brain and dura matter (the tough membrane that encases the nerves of the spinal cord) and eyes

Prions are frequently found in

Cerebrospinal fluid, the spleen, lymph nodes, kidneys and liver

Prions are less frequently detected in

The blood, urine, skin, muscle, bone, adrenal glands, heart, feces, peripheral nerves, nasal mucous, gingival, saliva, sputum, and tears

Prions are also located in

Prions

Standard cleaning/sterilization procedures are ineffective against

Inhaling spores from dust, bird droppings, soil and other sources

Several fungus species can cause respiratory diseases in humans who acquire infections by

Infection prevention and control

Who should you contact immediately when there is a suspected case including prions?

The departments manager

Who should you inform when there is a suspected case including prions?

Managing page it's with prion disease

Due to the difficulty in cleaning and sterilization, disposable instruments should be used whenever possible when:

Reusable instruments will likely be damaged or completely destroyed during the stringent cleaning and sterilization protocols

Why shouldn't reusable instruments be use in patients with prion disease?

They would likely be destroyed during cleaning and sterilization

Heat and moisture sensitive items should not be used in cases with prion diseases because:

The most current publish protocols for CJD

Surfaces such as countertops that have become contaminated with prion material should be cleaned following:

Microbial control

To prevent the spread of the microorganisms that can cause disease, healthcare setting must practice:

Microbial control and patient safety

The Infection Prevent and Control and Sterile Processing departments are vital to:

Infection

Every time an instrument or device enters a patients body during an invasive or minimally invasive surgery procedure, there is a risk of:

Kill pathogens on medical instruments or devices that will be used on patients

What does Sterile processing Technicians do?

The microbes susceptibility

The type of microbial control used against an organism varies according to

Different rates

Just as microorganisms differ in their needs for growth and reproduction, they also die at:

Ziehl-Nelson stain

What is another name for acid fast staining?

They are bacilli rod shaped and very difficult to stain

What are the characteristics of acid fast bacteria?

Decolorization with diluted acid alcohol solution

What will acid fast bacteria resist once heat and other stains introduced?

M tuberculosis (TB) and M leprae which causes leporsey

What are some acid fast mycobacteria?

Staphylococcus Aureus and Streptococci

What are 2 examples of spherical (coccus) bacteria?

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and Enterobacteria

What are 2 examples of Rod (bacillus) bacteria?

Helicobacter Pylori

What is an example of spiral (spirilla) bacteria?