Gram Stain Microbiology

Front 1

what will a contaminated urine look like?

Back 1

Contaminated urine contains squamous epithelial cells and a mixture of Gram-positive organisms.

A few Gram-negative rods may be present in a contaminated urine specimen.

Front 2

Enterococcus faecalis in urine

- name GS and key clinical fact

Back 2

Gram-positive cocci.

Key Clinical Fact: Enterococci commonly cause hospital-acquired urinary tract infections

Front 3

Staphylococcus saprophyticus-- in urine

Back 3

small clusters and pairs of Gram-positive cocci.

Key Clinical Fact: Staphylococcus saprophyticus is a common cause of urinary tract infections in young females.

Front 4

E. coli-- in urine

Back 4

narrow Gram-negative rods (variable in length).

Key Clinical Fact: E. coli is the most common cause of urinary tract infections.

Front 5

Klebsiella spp.-- in urine

Back 5

long, narrow Gram-negative rods.

Key Clinical Fact: Klebsiella pneumoniae is associated with the formation of kidney stones.

Front 6

Proteus spp. --in urine

Back 6

Gram-negative rods (long, narrow).

Key Clinical Fact:
Proteus mirabilis is associated with the formation of kidney stones.

Front 7

Pseudomonas spp.-- in urine

Back 7

Gram-negative rods (long, narrow).

Key Clinical Fact: Pseudomonas aeruginosa commonly causes hospital-acquired urinary tract infections.

Front 8

Candida albicans-- in urine

Back 8

pseudohyphae are visible at low magnification.

Key Clinical Fact: Candida albicans may be isolated from the urine of patients on antibiotics or diabetic patients.

Front 9

blood contamination

Back 9

Skin flora (e.g. staphylococci, micrococci, corynebacteria) can be pathogenic in certain circumstances and therefore cannot be automatically disregarded as contaminants.

Front 10

Clostridium perfringens- in blood

Back 10

Gram-positive rods.

Key Clinical Fact: Clostridium perfringens can cause life threatening soft tissue infections such as gas gangrene

Front 11

Clostridium tertium- in blood

Back 11

Gram-positive rods.

Key Clinical Fact: Clostridium tertium is an aerotolerant Clostridial species that can be confused with facultatively anaerobic Bacillus species.

Front 12

Corynebacterium spp.- in blood

Back 12

Gram-positive rods, variable in size and shape. The rods are usually grouped adjacently.

Key Clinical Fact: Corynebacterium spp. are normal skin inhabitants that can cause intravenous catheter infections.

Front 13

Enterococcus faecalis- in blood

Back 13

Gram-positive cocci (chains).

Key Clinical Fact: Enterococcus faecalis is a member of the normal intestinal flora and is commonly associated with intraabdominal infections.

Front 14

Lactobacillus spp.- in blood

Back 14

Gram-positive rods (long, narrow).

Key Clinical Fact: Lactobacillus is a normal inhabitant of some sites and may be isolated in urine specimens with vaginal contamination.

Front 15

Listeria spp.-in blood

Back 15

Gram-positive rods (short, narrow).

Key Clinical Fact:
Listeria is an important cause of meningitis in neonates and immunocompromised patients.

Front 16

Micrococcus spp.- in blood

Back 16

Gram-positive cocci (clusters).

Key Clinical Fact: Micrococcus spp. resemble Staphylococcus on gram's stain and are generally considered contaminants.

Front 17

Propionibacterium spp.- in blood

Back 17

Gram-positive rods (pleomorphic).

Key Clinical Fact: Propionibacterium spp. are members of the skin flora and rarely cause prosthetic-device infections.

Front 18

Staphylococcus spp.- in blood

Back 18

Gram-positive cocci (clusters).

Key Clinical Fact: Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections.

Front 19

Streptococcus mitis- in blood

Back 19

ram-positive cocci (chains).

Key Clinical Fact: Streptococcus mitis is a viridans group Streptococcus that can cause endocarditis.

Front 20

Streptococcus pneumonia- in blood

Back 20

Gram-positive diplococci.

Key Clinical Fact: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in adults.

Front 21

E. coli- in blood

Back 21

Gram-negative rods.

Key Clinical Fact: E. coli bacteria is often seen in association with upper urinary tract infections such as pyelonephritis.

Front 22

Klebsiella pneumonia- in blood

Back 22

Gram-negative rods.

Key Clinical Fact: Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important cause of nosocomial pneumonia.

Front 23

Pseudomonas spp.- in blood

Back 23

Gram-negative rods.

Key Clinical Fact: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important cause of burn and wound infections

Front 24

Candida albicans- in blood

Back 24

Budding yeast and pseudohyphae.

Key Clinical Fact: Candida albicans is an important cause of hospital-acquired intravenous catheter infections.