FTCC FSE-120 Embalming Microbiology Midterm 2023
Antibiotic
"The magic bullet" -- the idea that a chemical could be used to destroy a disease-causing microorganism in the body without harming the infected person
Why are endospores of particular concern to embalmers?
- Endospores are resistant to antibiotics, most disinfectants, and physical agents such as radiation, boiling and drying - The spread of disease from the deceased to the living is possible by transmission of endospores - Endospores remain on countertops, embalming tables and instruments, and other inanimate objects after terminal disinfection UNLESS these accessories are sterilized and treated with sporicides
What is the difference between eukaryotes and prokaryotes?
- Eukaryotes are recognized by the presence of nuclei and a cytoskeleton -- most human cells are eukaryotic - Prokaryotes do NOT have a nucleus OR membrane-bound organelles
What are the 3 basic ARRANGEMENTS of bacteria?
- Pairs (diplo-) - Chain (strepto-) - Cluster (staphyl-)
Prion
- Small, proteinaceous, infectious particles that are resistant to most procedures that modify nucleic acids - Do NOT contain DNA or RNA and do not cause an immune response in humans, they consist entirely of proteins produced by human genes - OBLIGATE INTRACELLULAR PARASITES - Diseases caused by Prions are known as Spongiform encephalopathies because they leave holes in brain tissue resembling a sponge
What are the 3 basic SHAPES of bacteria?
- Sphere (-coccus) - Rod (-bacillus) - Spiral (-spirilla)
Cyanobacteria produce _______% of the Earth's oxygen
20%
The human body is up to ______% water
60%
Viricide
A chemical antimicrobial agent that INACTIVATES viruses
Bactericide
A chemical antimicrobial agent that kills BACTERIA, but not necessarily their spores
Germicide
A chemical antimicrobial agent that kills a variety of different types of microorganisms, but not necessarily their spores
Sporicide
A chemical antimicrobial agent that kills bacterial AND mold spores, and can also be used during the process of terminal disinfection (sterilization) of embalming instruments and equipment
Fungicide
A chemical antimicrobial agent that kills both fungi AND their spores
Insecticide
A chemical antimicrobial agent that kills insects
Larvicide
A chemical antimicrobial agent that kills larvae
Bacteriophage
A complexly shaped virus that infects bacteria
Iodophore
A compound of iodine and a surfactant such as a detergent that can slowly release the free iodine
Scrubbing
A manual process by which microorganisms are removed from a surface -- should be vigorous and forceful on inanimate objects, but human remains should NEVER be treated with great force due to the possible damage that can occur to the tissues of the body -- used in tandem with sterilizers, disinfectants, and antiseptics
Antagonism
A mutual opposition or contrary action -- refers to the inhibition of one microorganism's growth by the presence of another
What is the structure of a virus?
A piece of genetic material wrapped in protein that contains only one type of nucleic acid: either DNA or RNA. Viruses multiply in living cells by using the cell's own structures to produce more infected cells
Tincture
A solution of iodine and alcohol that is primarily used as an antiseptic -- does NOT kill endospores
Glycocalyx
A sticky, gelatinous coating that surrounds the cell wall in prokaryotic cells
Endospore
A thick-walled cell produced by a bacterium to allow it to survive unfavorable environmental conditions
Who discovered penicillin?
Alexander Fleming due to mold-contaminated culture plates (penicillin being a fungus with a natural ability to inhibit the growth of bacterial cells)
What is the purpose of the capsule on a bacterium?
Allows it to survive through adverse circumstances
Virus
An intracellular, infectious parasite, capable of living and replicating only in living cells
Vector
An organism that spreads infection
Capsule
An organized, firmly attached external coating of a prokaryotic cell
Slime layer
An unorganized, loosely attached external coating of a prokaryotic cell
Mycoses
Any fungal infection
Obligate
Bacteria that are dependent on one source of nutrition
Facultative
Bacteria that can adapt to differing sources of nutrition -- they simply feed on new food sources or produce their own nutritional sources -- also capable of of adjusting to changes in CO2 levels in their environment
Psychrophile
Bacteria that prefer cold temperatures, thriving between 0-25 degrees C (32-77 degrees F)
Thermophile
Bacteria that prefer high temperatures, thriving between 40-70 degrees C (104-158 degrees F)
Mesophile
Bacteria that prefer moderate temperatures, thriving between 25-40 degrees (77-104 degrees F)
Heterotrophic
Bacteria that require complex organic food from a carbon source to grow and develop -- are the cause of numerous diseases in humans
Selectively permeable
Certain molecules and ions may pass through a membrane while others are restricted
Strepto
Chain
Quats (Quaternary Ammonium Compounds)
Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics that damage cellular membranes and denature microbial proteins -- deactivated in the presence of soap & other organic matter found in items like gauze
Staphyl
Clustered together/Clusters
Retort
Combustion chamber used to incinerate human remains
What disease gave milkmaids immunity to smallpox?
Cowpox
Name the levels of classification in order
Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
Micro
Extremely small
Classifications of protozoa
Flagellates, amoebae, ciliates, and sporozoans (FACS)
Name and describe the 2 methods to observe bacteria with microscopy
Fluid suspensions - Observe structures of microorganisms while they are alive and motile in fluid Smearing and staining - Observe the morphology of microorganisms while dry and fixed to a slide
Saprophyte
Fungi that grow on decomposing matter
Which bacterium has an optimum pH of 1?
Helicobacter pylori
Where is the bacterium Helicobacter pylori located in the human body?
In the stomach
Bio
Life
Placing remains in a refrigerated unit slows the growth of which type of bacteria?
Mesophilic bacteria
Obligate anaerobe
Microbes that can ONLY survive in an environment devoid of oxygen
Aerotolerant
Microbes that can grow in the presence OR absence of oxygen -- they are indifferent to oxygen and do not gain any benefit from its presence
Microaerophilic
Microbes that require little free oxygen (abt. 2-10%)
Obligate aerobe
Microorganisms that can only live in the presence of oxygen
Name and describe the 4 types of flagella locations on a bacterium
Monotrichous bacterium - One (mono) Amphitrichous bacterium - One at either end Lophotrichous bacterium - Two or more at either end Peritrichous bacterium - Flagellum distributed over its entire cell (peri/many)
Which bacterium does NOT have a cell wall?
Mycoplasma pneumoniae, the bacterium responsible for atypical pneumonia
Synergism
Occurs when the harmonious action of two microorganisms produces an effect neither could produce alone -- called a synergistic effect
Protozoa
One-celled eukaryotes that lack cell-walls but can have rigid forms that change based on their development throughout their life course
Antisepsis
Process by which microbial growth is inhibited on living tissue to prevent infection -- Sanitation is the reduction of the microbial population to a SAFE LEVEL as determined by public health standards
What are the four kingdoms?
Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia
What is the purpose of the cell wall?
Provides the cell with shape and it's primary purpose is to prevent bacteria from rupturing when the osmotic pressure inside the cell differs greatly from the osmotic pressure outside the cell
What genus of bacteria is commonly associated with secondary infections in burn patients?
Pseudomonas
Autotrophic
Self-nourishing bacteria, capable of growing in the absence of organic compounds -- capable of obtaining nutritional value from Carbon in CO2
Fimbriae
Short, thin, straight structures that allow bacteria to attach to surfaces
Viroid
Similar to a virus, except they contain only RNA and do NOT have a protein coat
Integument
Skin
Plasmid
Small, circular, double-stranded DNA molecules that the bacterial cell can actually pass along to other bacterial cells
What can kill endospores?
Sterilization
Name and describe the three categories of heterotrophic bacteria
Strict (obligate) saprophytes Strict (obligate) parasites Facultative bacteria
Name and describe the 3 types of mycoses
Superficial mycoses - Penetrate the least and are only found in the outermost layer of skin and hair Cutaneous mycoses - Fungal infections of the skin, hair, and fingernails Subcutaneous mycoses - Occur deep in the integument and may include the deeper structures such as the fascia, muscle tissue, and bone
Surfactant
Surface-active agents capable of altering the surface tension of cell membranes causing their cellular contents to leak out, thus destroying the cell -- QUATS ARE SURFACTANTS
Thermal death point
The LOWEST temperature at which ALL microorganisms are killed in 10 minutes
Thermal death time
The MINIMUM time it takes to kill ALL microorganisms present
Describe the process of binary fission
The cell splits into two parts, each of which develops into a complete individual
Vegetative cell
The fully developed bacterium remaining when an endospore germinates
Hypertonic
The level of solute outside the bacterial cell is HIGHER than that inside the cell, causing water to be drawn out of the cell
Hypotonic
The level of solute outside the bacterial cell is LOWER than that inside the cell, causing it to swell with water to compensate
Isotonic
The osmotic pressure OUTSIDE the cell is the SAME as that INSIDE the cell, preventing the net flow of water across the semipermeable membrane
Sterilization
The process of completely removing or destroying all life-forms, including bacterial endospores -- offers the highest level of microbial growth control
Sporulation
The process of forming an endospore
Disinfection
The reduction of pathogenic agents by chemical or physical means by applying the disinfectant to an inanimate object -- the number of microbes is reduced to the point that they no longer present a serious health hazard -- does NOT inactivate microbial endospores
Bacteriology
The study of bacteria
Mycology
The study of fungi
Microbiology
The study of microorganisms and their effect on other living organisms (literally "extremely small life")
Protozoology
The study of protozoa
Rickettsiology
The study of rickettsia (a genus of rod-shaped, gram-negative, intracellular, parasitic bacteria)
Morphology
The study of the size, shape, and arrangements of bacteria
Virology
The study of viruses
What is the germ theory of disease?
The theory that microorganisms cause disease
Decimal reduction time
The time in minutes it takes to kill 90% of the present microorganisms
Mutualism
Two different species live in close association to the MUTUAL benefit of each other
Binary fission (simple transverse fission)
Type of asexual reproduction in bacteria
Commensalism
When one organism GAINS some benefit and the host is NOT harmed
Agonal fever
When the deceased may have had a fever BEFORE death
Agonal algor
When the deceased's body may have cooled BEFORE death
Symbiosis
When two or more different species of organisms live together in close association -- symbiotic relationships are distinguished by the degree to which the host organism is harmed
Name the three types of fungi
Yeasts - Typically have a capsule and are unicellular Molds - Fungi that are filamentous and multicellular Dimorphic fungi - Alternate between unicellular and multicellular forms
Acid
pH of 0-6
Base
pH of 8-14