SMI: Investigation of whooping cough
Types of specimen Cough plates are not recommended. Selective media It contains blood or charcoal or both, along with selective antibiotic supplements – penicillin, cefalexin or meticillin.It should be able to suppress other nasopharyngeal flora. Meticillin is the least inhibitory, and cefalexin is the most. Cefalexin is the drug of choice for selective media in […]
SMI: Investigation of Throat-Related Specimens
Specimens Throat swab, posterior pharyngeal swab, nasopharyngeal swab, pharyngeal washings, pus aspirate, oropharyngeal swab, throat gargle. Why To investigate upper respiratory tract infection – Pharyngitis, Tonsillitis, Epiglottitis, and Laryngitis. Condition Target organisms Pharyngitis(sore throat) 1. Viral (commonest),2. Group A Streptococcus/ Streptococcus pyogenes,3. Group C/G Streptococcus – Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis,4. Streptococcus anginosus group,5. Corynebacterium – […]
SMI Summary: Investigation of bone marrow
Because it is an invasive procedure, bone marrow biopsy (typically collected from the posterior iliac crest or the sternum) is rarely used. It’s also proposed that it shouldn’t be done on people who are immune-competent.It may be useful in the diagnosis of infection in immunocompromised patients (HIV, transplant patients, or patients on high-dose steroids), caused […]
SMI notes: Investigation of infectious causes of dyspepsia (SMI B 55)
There are 2 SMIs related to H pylori- Identification of Helicobacter spp. (SMI ID26) & Investigation of infectious causes of dyspepsia (SMI B55). Available tests for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection There are 4 major types of tests that we can use to test for H pylori. 1. Urea breath test (UBT) 2. Stool antigen test […]
SMI (note): Investigation of swabs from the skin and superficial soft tissue infection
Specimen Advice for the users: Safety Processing Gram stain – usually not done unless deep-seated pus from a normally sterile site Plate selection CONDITION PLATES All clinical conditions Blood agarCLED/MacConkey agar Wound swab Selective anaerobic agar with metronidazole disc Pus Fastidious anaerobic, cooked meat broth;then Subculture to blood agar. Cellulitis in childrenHuman bite Chocolate agar […]
Shingles vaccine: study note
Two licensed shingles vaccines are available in the UK: Zostavax® and Shingrix®. Zostavax® Shingrix® Live vaccine? Live attenuated vaccine Recombinant vaccine (Not live) Strain/ component Derived from the OKA/Merck strain of the Varicella Zoster Virus Contains varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein E antigen produced by recombinant DNA technology, adjuvanted with AS01B Route The vaccine is given IM or Subcutaneous, preferably in the […]
Shiga toxin-producing E coli: E coli O157
Introduction There are various types of E coli that live in the environment and our intestines. Although most live inside our bowel harmlessly and even be beneficial, some E coli may cause infection, like UTI, bacteraemia, gastroenteritis etc. The E coli causing gastroenteritis could be divided into six phenotypes – Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) [or EHEC/VTEC] […]
Screening blood donors for infection (note)
Please note this is a study note, keeping the exam in mind. This is not a guideline and should not be used for that purpose. It is not for clinical use either. You should contact your doctor for clinical advice. Blood donation screening ORGANISM MANDATORY TEST ADDITIONAL TEST HIV anti-HIV 1+2 or HIV 1+2 Ag/Ab […]
Rothia mucilaginosa
The Bacteria Rothia belongs to the family Micrococcaceae – the same family as Micrococcus spp., Stomatococcus spp. and Kocuria spp. There are 8 species of Rothia – but only Rothia dentocariosa and Rothia mucilaginosa has been associated with human disease. It is a member of the mouth and upper respiratory tract flora. Laboratory Infection Rothia […]