Acanthamoeba belongs to a group of free-living, opportunistic amoebae that can be isolated from different environmental sources including water, air and soil. They can be pathogenic or serve as carriers of other pathogenic organisms. The aim of the present study is to evaluate haemodialysis and dental units in Alexandria for the possible contamination of their hydraulic systems with Acanthamoeba species. The lack of previous studies in this respect derived us to conduct this preliminary study. Seventy samples were collected aseptically and then cultivated on non-nutrient agars at room temperature followed by morphological confirmation of Acanthamoeba on trichrome-stained smears. This study revealed that 42.9% of water samples from the hydraulic systems of both haemodialysis and dental units were positive for Acanthamoeba, with no statistically significant difference between both unit types or between pre- and post-disinfection samples for each unit type. Virally contaminated haemodialyzers were found to be more contaminated (61.5%) with Acanthamoeba than those without viral contamination (23.5%), but without any statistically significant difference. The surgical category of dental clinics showed the highest contamination (72.7%) whereas no contamination was observed for water samples from paediatric dentistry clinics. In conclusion, the hydraulic systems of haemodialysis and dental units in Alexandria are contaminated with Acanthamoeba spp., and further studies are recommended to study their potential pathogenicity and molecular characterization in these environments.
Keywords: Acanthamoeba; Free-living amoeba; Haemodialysis; Dental; Alexandria; Egypt
1. Introduction
Free-living amoebae (FLA) of the genus Acanthamoeba are c...
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...titute of Public Health (HIPH), Alexandria University.
2.3. Inverted phase-contrast microscopy and examination of stained smears
The presence of Acanthamoeba spp. was investigated by examining the NNA-culture plates under inverted phase-contrast microscope (CK; Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) using 10x and 40x objectives. For confirmation of the morphology of Acanthamoeba spp., smears were prepared from cultures and permanently stained with trichrome stain. These smears were then examined microscopically for Acanthamoeba trophozoites and/or cysts at 1000x magnification under light microscope.8
2.4. Statistical Analysis
Data were entered, verified and analysed using version 15.0 of SPSS for Windows® (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). χ² and Fisher's exact tests were used to assess the differences between proportions at a significance level of 0.05 and 95% confidence interval.
The purpose of this study is to identify an unknown bacterium from a mixed culture, by conducting different biochemical tests. Bacteria are an integral part of our ecosystem. They can be found anywhere and identifying them becomes crucial to understanding their characteristics and their effects on other living things, especially humans. Biochemical testing helps us identify the microorganism present with great accuracy. The tests used in this experiment are rudimentary but are fundamental starting points for tests used in medical labs and helps students attain a better understanding of how tests are conducted in a real lab setting. The first step in this process is to use gram-staining technique to narrow down the unknown bacteria into one of the two big domains; gram-negative and gram-positive. Once the gram type is identified, biochemical tests are conducted to narrow down the specific bacterial species. These biochemical tests are process of elimination that relies on the bacteria’s ability to breakdown certain kinds of food sources, their respiratory abilities and other biochemical conditions found in nature.
I was given unknown organism #14, in order to find out what organism I had, I had to perform several different biochemical tests to identify it. Starting with the Gram stain test, which is performed to differentiate Gram-positive and Gram-negative cells. After staining, when observed through the microscope Gram-positive cells are a purple color with thick peptidoglycan cell walls. Gram-negative cells are a pinkish/red color with thinner cell walls. (handout G. s.) My organism was observed to be pinkish rod shaped meaning it is Gram-negative bacteria.
The morphology of S. pyogenes is a chain of cocci that are normally in groups of ten and each cocci range in diameter from 0.5 to 0.75 μm. They are nonmotile, which means that they
Andhoga J, Macharia AG, Maikuma IR, Wanyonyi ZS, Ayumba BR, Kakai R (2002) Aerobic pathogenic bacteria in post-operative wounds at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. East Afr Med J.79:640-644.
The life cycle of Naegleria fowleri includes three different stages: amoeboid trophozoites, flagellates, and cysts; due to the transitory nature of the microbe and the specific forms that it can take, it is frequently referred to as an amoeboflagellate. Despite its abilities to take on various forms, the amoeboid trophozoite is the only infective stage of the microbe and it requires favorable environmental ...
Microbiology with Diseases by Body System (Hardcover) & MasteringMicrobiology, 3rd edition, Bauman, R. W., Benjamin- Cummings Publishing Company, 2012, San Francisco, CA. ISBN 9780321716378. OR
In conclusion, the unknown microorganism which eighteen tests were performed on matches up with the microorganism Enterobacter aerogenes. The gram stain looks exactly like it is supposed to, gram-negative which makes it pink and the results for every test except the three experimental errors match up with this microorganism. The objective of performing various test on an unknown microorganism was to be able to correctly identify the unknown microorganism based on its’ characteristics and the results that follow, this objective was achieved because the microorganism turned out to be true by the results that were found from the tests. The unknown microorganism that was given at random was in fact Enterobacter aerogenes.
2.) We began our study by interviewing a classmate, then interviewing another PLHS student for homework and recording our data. We then proceeded to fill out a Google form, which aided us in planting the anonymous data in a data table and combining it. Following that, we sorted and graphed the data by gender and ethnicity to see how different groups responded to each inquiry. Upon doing th...
Introduction: You are being asked to join in a research study. Please consider participating. Please ask any questions if you are not sure. Your involvement is voluntary.
Talaro , K., & Chess, B. (2012). Foundations in microbiology. (8th ed., pp. 563-564). New York, NY:
This study failed to mention details regarding the participants’ gender, race, or religion. With this being said, they may not be an accurate representation of the general population. To elaborate,
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Infection control is a central concept to every practice of health care providers. Its main objective is to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases from both patients and health personnel (Martin et al., 2010). In dental clinic, infection control is a continuous concern for its professionals. They have to contact patients routinely and be exposed to their blood, saliva, dental plaque and pus that may contain infectious pathogens. It is important for the dental professionals to treat these fluids as if they are infectious and special precautions must be taken to handle them. In this essay, I will highlight the scope of infection control practices in dental clinics and the ways through which infectious microorganisms are transmitted in the dental clinic. Also, I will talk about some infection control guidelines implemented in dental clinics and how they meet the needs of the patients. Finally, from a personal perspective, I will mention some factors that affect the implantation of infection control guidelines and procedures.
...the data did not involve member checking thus reducing its robustness and enable to exclude researcher’s bias. Although a constant comparative method was evident in the discussion which improved the plausibility of the final findings. Themes identified were well corroborated but not declared was anytime a point of theoretical saturation Thus, the published report was found to be particularly strong in the area of believability and dependability; less strong in the area of transferability; and is weak in the area of credibility and confirmability, although, editorial limitations can be a barrier in providing a detailed account (Craig & Smyth, 2007; Ryan, Coughlan, & Cronin, 2007).
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