Bacteria Basics
The Cambridge Online Dictionary characterizes bacteria as “very small organisms that are found everywhere and are the cause of many diseases” (Cambridge University). Bacteria is all around no matter where someone were to go. Bacteria can be very dangerous. People are exposed to bacteria from the time they are born to the day they die. Much of society think of public restrooms as bacterial feeding grounds, but what about high schools? Do high schools have dangerous sorts of bacteria such as E.coli or other pathogens? What kind of environment does bacteria prosper in? How can bacterial growth be reduced?
To find what kind of bacteria grows in the school, multiple locations will be swabbed for pathogens; a toilet, a keyboard, a locker room floor, and a drinking fountain. The bacteria will be allowed to grow at room temperature in ordinary lighting to simulate its growth at its found location. After allowing the bacteria to grow it will be identified by its size, colony shape, elevation, surface, opacity, pigmentation, …show more content…
Biofilm, like Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes, both deadly disease causing pathogens, were found on toys, books, cribs, and hands. Four out five stuffed toys and cribs contained one or both of the biofilm pathogens. Within the daycare they found bacteria that had been allowed to grow for at least one month. Through this discovery it was found that humans can contract sickness not just by inhaling droplets of bacteria but also from handling contaminated objects. The bacteria can live for months and spread disease. Hand washing is one of the leading ways to rid children and adults from bacteria. Children have low immune systems that cannot protect them from dangerous bacteria as well as adults (Hakansson). In high schools the immune systems of the students are not yet developed enough to completely protect them from these harmful
The Cambridge Online Dictionary characterizes bacteria as “very small organisms that are found everywhere and are the cause of many diseases” (Cambridge University). Bacteria is all around no matter where someone were to go. Bacteria can be very dangerous. People are exposed to bacteria from the time they are born to the day they die. Much of society think of public restrooms as bacterial feeding grounds, but what about high schools? Do high schools have dangerous sorts of bacteria such as E.coli or other pathogens? What kind of environment does bacteria prosper in? How can bacterial growth be reduced?
To find what kind of bacteria grows in the school, multiple locations will be swabbed for pathogens; a toilet, a keyboard, a locker room floor, and a drinking fountain. The bacteria will be allowed to grow at room temperature in ordinary lighting to simulate its growth at its found location. After allowing the bacteria to grow it will be identified by its size, colony shape, elevation, surface, opacity, pigmentation, …show more content…
Biofilm, like Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes, both deadly disease causing pathogens, were found on toys, books, cribs, and hands. Four out five stuffed toys and cribs contained one or both of the biofilm pathogens. Within the daycare they found bacteria that had been allowed to grow for at least one month. Through this discovery it was found that humans can contract sickness not just by inhaling droplets of bacteria but also from handling contaminated objects. The bacteria can live for months and spread disease. Hand washing is one of the leading ways to rid children and adults from bacteria. Children have low immune systems that cannot protect them from dangerous bacteria as well as adults (Hakansson). In high schools the immune systems of the students are not yet developed enough to completely protect them from these harmful