Tips for Skill 31

This skill will require you to collect samples and culture bacteria. You will then perform sensitivity tests, biochemical tests, and staining procedures to identify common pathogens. Upon completion of this skill, you will be able to perform bacterial culture and sensitivity tests, perform cytologic exam of bacterial samples, and recognize different types of strains of bacterial infections.

Tips for materials that need to be submitted:

• Logbook of procedures performed

  • You need a description of each of the three procedures you performed. Describe in detail in your own words how you performed each test and the test principle of each of those tests

  • You need to perform one of each test on two different patients. The tests are related so each test need to be performed on each patient

    • Please review your textbook on how to perform a culture and sensitivity. You need to do these tests in the correct order.

  • The culture and sensitivity and gram satin will be a part of your kit

    • If your medium is expired continue to use it, it should still work just fine for the purpose of this skill

    • Your kit will say the culture needs to be completed on urine but please do not use urine. There is a high chance there will be no growth.

      • We recommend swabbing a patient's rectal area or a fecal sample to ensure you do get growth.

  • You need to include patient info in your log of results (signalment)

  • You need to include the results for each test and patient

    • Information that needs to be included in your results

      • Measure the zone of inhibition

      • Clearly document what you see

      • Include what you specifically see under the microscope

      • Identify the bacteria

        • All of the data you collected is to aid you in identifying the bacteria you cultured

• Photos of the Bullseye agar and Mueller Hinton plate showing colony growth on all three patient samples

  • Photos need to contain proper sample labeling

    • Your student ID

    • Patient info

    • Date of inoculation

    • If you cannot fit this on the plate or it will interfere with us seeing the growth, you can write it on a piece of paper and have the plate sitting next to the paper

    • Helpful link for this skill: https://microbeonline.com/catalase-test-principle-uses-procedure-results/