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Anaerobic microbiology is performed in an anaerobic chamber. |
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Bacteriology
Routine bacteriology and susceptibility testing (MICs): Samples of human tissue, exudates, fluids, etc. are processed to reveal the agents of infectious diseases. Cultures are incubated at special temperatures and in special atmospheres to maximize recovery of pathogens. Experienced clinicalmicrobiologylogists examine smears of original samples to obtain important early information. After incubation, they study supportive and differential agar Petri dish cultures of specimens for the colony morphologies suggestive of pathogenic bacteria, the nature of which varies depending on the type of specimen and the source of the specimen. For example, Streptococcus pneumoniae is a pathogen in the blood, but considered a normal inhabitant of the throat. Pathogens for which antimicrobial therapy is not predictable are tested for susceptibility to antimicrobials using the best possible system for that organism/antimicrobial agent combination.
Etest, anaerobic, and some special antimicrobial susceptibility testing: Supplementary susceptibility methods, including the quantitative agar gradient method (Etest), are used to test organisms with special requirements. We are also able to test some relatively newer antimicrobials that are not yet represented on most routine laboratories’ systems.
Special studies for cystic fibrosis patient samples: Colonizing organisms can easily overwhelm less robust microbes of huge clinical importance unless special selective media specific for cystic fibrosis patient samples are employed. Microbiology has years of experience handling samples from cystic fibrosis patients and we use additional resources, such as the National Cystic Fibrosis Reference Laboratory, for further testing where necessary.
Bordetella pertussis direct fluorescent antibody stain: This stain can be performed within a day of receiving a sample (weekdays) and is 70% sensitive compared with molecular amplification tests. The fluorescent antibody stain should never be ordered without also ordering the B. pertussis/parapertussis PCR test.
