Lactococcus lactis is a microbe classified informally as a Lactic Acid Bacterium because it ferments milk sugar (lactose) to lactic acid. Lactococci are typically spherical or ovoid cells, about 1.2µm by 1.5µm, occurring in pairs and short chains. They are Gram-positive, non motile, and do not form spores. Lactococci are found associated with plant material, mainly grasses, from which they are easily inoculated into milk. Hence, they are found normally in milk and may be a natural cause of souring.…
Reason for Visit: Puncture Wound Follow Up S: TM started on Cipro 500 mg BID yesterday for his left arm puncture wound yesterday. TM reports the redness and edema has improved and minimal pain with palpation to his left FA; 2/10. TM denies any issues at this time to his left FA. TM reports tenderness to his tetanus IM injection site; right shoulder. O: minimal redness to left FA puncture wound; harden area, radius of 2 cm; no warmth palpated; no s/s of infection noted, Left arm NVS intact, no impairment of movement in Left arm.…
Annotated Bibliography: Decreasing the risk of Clostridium Difficile (CDIFF) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2015) Clostridium difficile Infection http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/organisms/cdiff/Cdiff_infect.html This particular site by the CDC summarizes all the Healthcare-associated Infections (HAIs), the organism that cause the disease and its data and statistics. Then it breaks down each infection one by one with an easy to read fact sheet. This is a great resource that merely summarizes each infections transmission, ways to treat the infections and is a good resource on prevention.…
Tetanospasmin interferes with the signals traveling from the brain to the nerves in the spinal cord, and then on to the muscles, causing muscle spasms and stiffness. Puncture wounds - Clostridium tetani enters the body mainly through skin lesions (skin cut or puncture wound). Thoroughly cleaning any…
The activation of the tcdA and tcdB leads to the release of toxins A and B, which mainly cause cell death (Voth and Ballard). In particular, toxin A induces enteritis and recruits neutrophils, or immune system cells, to reactivate oxygen metabolites; in turn, the neutrophils cause even more inflammation (Voth and…
Clostridium difficile is a gram-positive anaerobic bacillus that forms spores and it is known as the most common cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea. Gastric acid was not believed to be important in protection agent against C difficile infection due to acid-resistant spores being allegedly the main vector of transmission. This theory has been challenged by numerous studies that have found a higher risk of C difficile infection in PPI users. PPIs may increase the risk of C difficile infection by increasing the capability of the spores to convert into a vegetative state and survive in the lumen of the stomach. Studies have shown a strong statistical correlation between PPI use and C. difficile infection.…
The Bubonic Plague is a bacteria known as Yersinia Pestis that infects the lymphatic system causing it to become inflamed (Tonsils, Adenoids, Spleen, and Thymus). The bacteria needs calcium to grow but when there is no calcium it produces amino acids called aspartic acid. Aspartic acid raises the blood plasma level of aspartate and glutamate. This excess can lead to damage of sensitive neurons. It can also help generate cellular energy, balance neurochemistry, and help the liver rid the body of toxins including ammonia.…
Gas gangrene belongs to the genus Clostridium (Carlisle 2014). It’s a non-motile, gram-positive, anaerobic, and spore-forming bacillus (Carlisle 2014). The most common etiologic agent that causes gas gangrene is called Clostridium perfringes. This can enter your body through open wounds and eating poorly cooked meat. Since C. perfringes is an anaerobic bacterium, it uses energy by using anaerobic respiration and Nitrate as an electron acceptor.…
Venomous animals such as scorpions, snakes and sea anemones secrete bio-toxins which are vital in the regulation of ion channel activity. Envenomations induced by these animals cause a spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from mild cases such as local edema to severe ones such as intravascular hemolysis. In particular, marine snail, Conus geographus toxins such as μ–conotoxins GIIIA, GIIIB, and GIIIC affect the Nav channels. These toxins block current flow thereby reducing membrane potential, as a result, also inhibits neurotransmitter release. The pathophysiological effects associated with these toxins include diarrhea, vomiting, paralysis, dyspnea, convulsions, hypotention, respiratory failure and finally death [1] …………
Some common ways in contracting tetanus can include wounds that have been contaminated with saliva or feces, burns, crush injuries, wounds that include necrotic (dead) tissue and puncture wounds. Some rare ways of contracting tetanus can include surgical procedures, superficial wounds, insect bites, compound fractures, intravenous drug use, injection into the muscles (intramuscular) and dental infections.…
Article Review Clostridium difficile is a bacterial organism that can be found in a small percentage of individuals alongside the natural flora of the digestive system; it produces spores, which can live for long periods of time outside of the body and due to their nature are excreted within fecal matter (Kenneley, 2013, pp. 63). According to Irena Kenneley in the article "Clostridium difficile infection is on the rise", C. difficile is increasing in frequency among individual populations which were previously considered to be low risk for contracting this infection. It is also believed that the current strain of C. difficile is far more deadly and resistant to many antibiotics that are usually used in the treatment of the infection. In…
In the Home Health setting in which I work there is currently minimal technology in use. The addition of smart phones or tablets that would allow video education as an adjunct to the current teaching methods which consist of verbal edification and written handouts, would provide supplementary teaching methods for the adult learner. Furthermore, adult patients with limited literacy will benefit from the ability to visualize information (Green, Gonzaga, Cohen, & Spagnoletti, 2014). Patients who receive the diagnosis of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) are often frightened and confused. Therefore, it is imperative to provide effective patient education regarding this affliction.…
The evolutionary arms race is between two organisms competing to out rank and outlive one another. One example in this video of the evolutionary arms race is between humans and microbes. Humans and microbes are big ones because microbes all everywhere and they can get stronger as time goes on. Microbes get stronger by giving humans medicines they don’t not get sick but better.…
In today’s society were one can get food from an abundant amount of sources, it is very important for the person to know where the food they are consuming came from. Many Americans are trying to eat a healthier diet consisting of fresh and raw products. They are trying to be more aware of what they are putting in their bodies and are shopping more at farmer’s markers, natural food stores, and purchasing more organic foods or even growing their own produce. In addition to that, the people are trying to eat foods that contain less additives in them along with foods that have minimal processing to them. This is great that more people are concerned about their health and want to do what is best to insure they are healthy, however, some of the…
Bioterrorism is a form of terrorism that holds a massive danger over anybody, with the power to kill millions in just days or months. Some various chemical weapons that can be used or have been include: Anthrax, Smallpox, Ebola, Plague, and Tularemia. Each one of these viruses contains the power to harm, severely disable, or kill a person. From Pneumonia to shock and paralysis the wrath of chemical agent produces much more torturous effects then a gun-wound in a war scenario. To put into perspective, “An airborne release of 250 pounds of anthrax spores over Washington, D.C., could cause more deaths than a 1-megaton hydrogen bomb” (Spencer 1).…