Legionella

Explanation of a microbiological algorithm for Hospital-acquired and Ventilator associated pneumonia. This algorithm is intended to deal with the microbiological aspects of hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia. The severity of the illness is important in determining when to collect the diagnostic samples and which antimicrobials to administer due to which organisms are present. There are many prognostic scoring systems used to suggest the severity of the disease in patients…

A Murky Situation: The Flint Water Crisis Most Americans would readily agree that all people deserve the right to clean water, but the when they realize the large monetary commitment this requires, the water becomes murky, both literally and figuratively. This phenomenon is pronounced in Flint, Michigan. The downturns of the auto industry in the 1980s wrecked havoc in this prominently black city to the extent that today about 40% of its citizens live under the poverty line. In 2014, Flint sought…

Lead poisoning occurs when there is an immense build-up of lead in a person’s body. This can happen over the course of a couple of months, to years. It is extremely serious and can sometimes turn into a fatal condition. Lead is usually found in certain paints, art supplies, or contaminated dust. It can enter the human body through inhalation or consumption. While lead poisoning can be cured, its effects cannot be reversed. The most well-known case of lead poisoning in our present time is Flint…

Gram positive: First, the bacteria sample is placed on a glass slide and heated only to the point of rendering it innocuous in terms of being infectious to the handler. Next, the bacteria sample is treated with a gentian violet-iodine solution for up to sixty seconds. The slide is then gently rinsed under clean water and the Gram solution is applied, which is a mixture of iodine and potassium iodide diluted in water. This step triggers a reaction to the gentian violet compound. Initially, the…

Legionnaires Disease Legionnaires disease is a lung infection caused by Legionella pneumophila bacteria. These bacteria usually grow in places that hold warm water, such as: Large air-conditioning systems. Complex plumbing systems, such as pipes, faucets, and showerheads in hotels, hospitals, or cruise ships. Public whirlpool spas. Decorative fountains. Hot water tanks. The only way to get legionnaires disease is to breathe in mist containing the bacteria. The disease…

Gases in the environment There are four different classes of microorganisms that exist based on their need for oxygen (O2). - Aerobes are the class of microorganisms that need 21 % O2 to grow. e.g. Filamentous moulds, Legionella.…

What is one of the leading causes of death in children under the age of five? Drowning? SIDS? Although these are both great answers I’m actually referring to Pneumonia which accounts for 15% of all deaths in children under 5 years old. Pneumonia actually claimed the lives of an estimated 922,000 children in 2015. Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lungs which primarily affects the microscopic air sacs known as the alveoli. The condition will inflame the air sacs in the lungs and…

Acute bronchitis is the sudden development of inflammation of the trachea and major bronchi. It is caused by mainly by viral and sometimes bacterial infection. However, inhaling substances that irritate the lungs, such as tobacco smoke, and dust can cause it. The main symptoms for a 55-year old include a hacking cough that last for up to three weeks with or without phlegm, and sometimes dyspnea and wheezing. The typical community acquired pathogens (CAP) involved with acute bronchitis are…

During the second half of the nineteenth century, Robert Koch, a German physician, was the first person to demonstrate that a certain kind of bacterium was the cause for a specific disease. Koch had studied anthrax disease in sheep, a common disease for livestock in Germany, and he realized that specific rod-shaped bacteria were characteristically present in the cells of the infected animals. He decided to isolate these bacteria, which he labeled them as Bacillus anthracis, and grew them in a…

cough, chest discomfort due to cough, fatigue and SOB on exertion and fever. CXR shows dense shadow in the RLL. Pertinent negatives: None. P. Diagnostics: Sputum microscopy and culture, blood chemistry and hematology, blood gases, urinalysis for legionella, blood culture and polymerase chain reaction tests (Akter et al., 2015). Rx: Antimicrobials are the cornerstone of ACP in any population. Azithromycin 500 mg PO one dose, then 250 mg PO daily for 4 days (Epocrates, 2017). Dispensing…