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Biology 260
Clark College
Updated 9/16/14 1
INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS AND PHYSICIANS
Microbiology labs at Clark College are operated at Biosafety Level 2 (BSL2). Personal protective
equipment (lab coats, gloves, goggles. etc.) is required to work in this lab, and access to the
laboratory is restricted by the laboratory director when work with infectious agents is in
progress.
Persons who are immune-compromised (including those who are pregnant or may become
pregnant) and students living with or caring for an immune-compromised individual should
consult with physicians to determine the appropriate level of participation in the lab. Should
your physician discern that you should not participate in this lab, please have him or her write a
note stating the concerns. Alternative accommodations may be indicated.
The following is a list of bacterial species that may be grown in the Microbiology lab (it is
probable that not all species on this list will be grown). If you experience the symptoms
associated with any of these bacteria, please consult your physician immediately. Please have
your physician contact your Microbiology lab instructor if she/he would like information on the
bacterial cultures being actively grown in the lab.
Enterococcus faecalis (formerly Streptococcus faecalis)
Enterococci can cause urinary tract, wound, and soft tissue infections. They are also associated
with bacteremia (bacteria in blood) which can lead to endocarditis (infection of the inner lining
of the heart) in previously damaged cardiac valves. E. faecalis is the most frequent species
isolated from human intestine samples (80-90%).
Proteus mirabilis
Proteus species can cause urinary tract infections (UTI) accompanied by fever above 101oF. UTI
can occasionally lead to bacteremia (bacteria in blood). Pneumonia, skin lesions, and neonatal
infections can also sometimes occur (WebMD, n.d.).
Proteus vulgaris
Proteus species can cause urinary tract infections (UTI) accompanied by fever above 101oF. UTI
can occasionally lead to bacteremia (bacteria in blood). Pneumonia, skin lesions, and neonatal
infections can also sometimes occur (WebMD, n.d.).
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common resident of the human microbiome, but it rarely causes
disease in healthy persons. Most infections with this organism occur in compromised hosts.
Examples of compromising conditions include disrupted physical barriers to bacterial invasion
(e.g., burn injuries, intravenous [IV] lines, urinary catheters, dialysis catheters, endotracheal
tubes) and dysfunctional immune mechanisms. Symptoms depend on where the infection is. If
it's in a wound, there may be green-blue pus in or around the area. If you have swimmer's ear,
your ear aches. If the infection causes pneumonia, you may get a cough. When the infections
are elsewhere in the body, you may have a fever and feel tired (WebMD, n.d.).
Biology 260
Clark College
Updated 9/16/14 2
Shigella dysenteriae
Shigellosis is an infectious disease caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella. Most who are
infected with Shigella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps starting a day or two after
they are exposed to the bacteria. The diarrhea is often bloody. Shigellosis usually resolves in 5
to 7 days. Persons with shigellosis in the United States rarely require hospitalization. A severe
infection with high fever may be associated with seizures in children less than 2 years old. Some
persons who are infected may have no symptoms at all, but may still pass the Shigella bacteria
to others (CDC, n.d.).
Shigella flexneri
Shigellosis is an infectious disease caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella. Most who are
infected with Shigella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps starting a day or two after
they are exposed to the bacteria. The diarrhea is often bloody. Shigellosis usually resolves in 5
to 7 days. Persons with shigellosis in the United States rarely require hospitalization. A severe
infection with high fever may be associated with seizures in children less than 2 years old. Some
persons who are infected may have no symptoms at all, but may still pass the Shigella bacteria
to others (CDC, n.d.).
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus causes most staph infections (pronounced "staff infections"), including
 Skin infections
 Pneumonia
 Food poisoning
 Toxic shock syndrome
 Blood poisoning (bacteremia)
Skin infections are the most common and are the most probable form of infection arising from
mistakes in the microbiology lab. They can look like pimples or boils. They may be red, swollen
and painful, and sometimes have pus or other drainage. They can turn into impetigo, which
turns into a crust on the skin, or cellulitis, a swollen, red area of skin that feels hot.
Anyone can get a staph skin infection. You are more likely to get one if you have a cut or
scratch, or have contact with a person or surface that has staph bacteria. The best way to
prevent staph is to keep hands and wounds clean. Most staph skin infections are easily treated
with antibiotics or by draining the infection. Some staph bacteria such as MRSA (methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus) are resistant to certain antibiotics, making infections harder to
treat (CDC, n.d.).
Streptococcus agalactiae
Group B Streptococcus (group B strep) is a type of bacteria that causes illness in people of all
ages. Also known as GBS or baby strep, group B strep disease in newborns most commonly
causes sepsis (infection of the blood), pneumonia (infection in the lungs), and sometimes
meningitis (infection of the fluid and lining around the brain). The most common problems
caused by group B strep in adults are bloodstream infections, pneumonia, skin and soft-tissue
infections, and bone and joint infections.
Biology 260
Clark College
Updated 9/16/14 3
The symptoms of group B strep disease can seem like other health problems in newborns and
infants. Most newborns with early-onset disease have symptoms on the day of birth. Babies
who develop late-onset disease may appear healthy at birth and develop symptoms of group B
strep disease after the first week of life. Some symptoms are: fever, difficulty feeding, irritability
or lethargy, difficulty breathing, blu-ish color to skin (CDC, n.d.).
Streptococcus mitis
Streptococcus mitis is a resident of the human oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, and the female
urogenital tract. It is generally not pathogenic except in immunocompromised individuals and
when give the opportunity to invade other body systems (as when invasive procedures have
been performed). Under those circumstances, Streptococcus mitis can cause dental infections,
septicemia (bacterial growth in blood) and endocarditis (infection of the inner lining of the
heart) both of which may be accompanied by fever, fatigue, possibly loss of appetite
(MedlinePlus, n.d.).
Streptococcus pneumonia
Sudden onset of fever and malaise are typical symptoms for all forms of pneumococcal
(Streptococcus pneumoniae) infections and may be the only symptoms in young children with
bacteremia. In pneumococcal pneumonia, fever may precede the usual symptoms of cough,
pleuritic chest pain, and production of purulent or blood-tinged sputum by 12–24 hours. In
elderly people, the onset of pneumococcal pneumonia may be less abrupt, with fever,
shortness of breath, or altered mental status as the initial symptoms; sputum production may
be absent. Pneumococcal meningitis may present with a stiff neck, headache, lethargy, or
seizures (CDC, n.d.).
Streptococcus pyogenes
Acute Streptococcus pyogenes infections may present as strep throat (sore throat, fever,
headache, nausea), scarlet fever (sudden fever, sore throat, “sandpapery” rash, possibly
abdominal pain, muscle aches, swollen red tongue, vomiting), impetigo (infection of the
superficial layers of the skin) or cellulitis (infection of the deep layers of the skin). Invasive,
toxigenic infections can result in necrotizing fasciitis (fast-spreading infection of the subcutaneous (deeper) layers of the skin), myositis (muscle inflammation) and streptococcal toxic
shock syndrome (severe pain at site of skin infection, fever, low blood pressure, malaise
confusion). Patients may also develop immune-mediated post-streptococcal sequelae, such as
acute rheumatic fever and acute glomerulonephritis, following acute infections caused by
Streptococcus pyogenes (Todar, 2008).
List of Literature Resources
* Medline Plus (n.d.). Retrieved online from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/
* Todar, K. (2008). Online Textbook of Bacteriology. Retrieved online from
http://textbookofbacteriology.net/
* US Centers for Disease Control (CDC). (n.d.). Retrieved online from http://www.cdc.gov
* WebMD (n.d.). Retrieved online from http://www.webmd.com