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