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Description: Improve your ability to isolate, identify, differentiate and be better prepared to deal with Bacillus anthracis, Corynebacterium diphtheria and Listeria.

Start date: Upon registration

Completion: Up to 52 weeks

Learning Outcomes:

Facultative and Aerobic Spore Forming Rods

• State the criteria that place an organism in the genus Bacillus.
• Name the major pathogen of the genus.
• Explain why anthracis is dangerous to work with in the laboratory and state where cultures should be handled.
• Describe the cellular morphology and growth requirements of anthracis.
• Describe typical colonies of anthracis on blood agar.
• Describe three criteria useful for preliminary differentiation of anthracis from other Bacillus species.
• Describe the pathogenicity of anthracis in animals and explain how humans may be infected.
• State the usual significance of Bacillus species in cultures.
• List infections that may be caused by Bacillus
• Describe cellular morphology of Bacillus
• Explain how the KOH test and vancomycin susceptibility may be used to help interpret the Gram reaction.
• Describe food poisonings caused by Bacillus cereus.
• Name the organism used as a biological control for the autoclave and state the temperature required for growth of this organism.

Corynebacterium and Similar Gram-Positive Bacilli

• List the common characteristics of the genus Corynebacterium.
• Explain the general meaning of the term "diphtheroid".
• Describe the frequency of isolation of C. diphtheriae in Canada.
• Describe the cellular morphology of C. diphtheriae.

• Describe volutin granules.
• Describe the selective media used to isolate diphtheriae.

• Describe typical colonies of C. diphtheriae on blood agar.
• State how genus identification for Corynebacterium is established, how the species diphtheriae is identified and what additional testing is required for C. diphtheriae.
• Name the type of test used for the in vitro identification of toxin.
• Describe the clinical symptoms of diphtheria and the role of toxin.
• Name the usual site of infection as well as other possible sites.
• State how immunization is accomplished.
• Describe the need for screening for C. diphtheriae in Canada.

• Describe the clinical significance of Corynebacterium ulcerans and how to differentiate it from diphtheriae. Describe the type and incidence of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infections and how to differentiate from C. diphtheriae:
• State where diphtheroids are found as normal flora and the significance in blood cultures.
• Describe typical colonies on blood agar and typical cellular morphology.
• Explain when and how definitive identification is made.
• Describe the clinical significance, cellular morphology and susceptibility pattern of Corynebacterium jeikeium
• Describe the clinical significance of Arcanobacterium haemolyticum and how to differentiate it from streptococcus species.
• State the clinical significance of Actinomyces pyogenes.
• Describe the cellular and colonial morphology of Rhodococcus equi and its pathogenicity.

Listeria monocytogenes

• Name the two species of Listeria isolated from man and state which one is a known human pathogen.
• Describe the cellular morphology of monocytogenes.
• State the optimum atmosphere and temperature for growth.
• State when selective media would be required and explain the principle of cold enrichment.
• Describe typical colonies on blood agar.
• State the result for monocytogenes in the following tests:
• Catalase
• Slide motility
• Media motility
• Esculin hydrolysis
• CAMP reaction with aureus and R. equi
  • Describe the epidemiology of infections in man.
  • Describe infections in the neonate.
  • List infections caused in adults and predisposing factors.

Erysipelothrix

• State the reservoir of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, how man is infected and the type of infection seen in man.
• Describe specimens suitable for culture and appearance of rhusiopathiae in each.
• Name a suitable medium for isolation and state optimum environment for growth.
• Describe colonies on blood agar and typical findings in Gram stains.
• State reaction for catalase and motility and explain the importance of H₂S production in identification.

Gardnerella

• Name the two genera previously used for Gardnerella.
• Describe the cellular morphology in cultures and direct smears.
• State the optimum atmosphere and temperature for isolation.
• State the effect of sodium polyanethol sulfonate on growth.
• Name two nonselective and one selective medium for isolation.
• Describe typical colonies on medium containing human blood.
• State the criteria for presumptive identification.
• List the three biochemical tests commonly used to confirm identification.
• Name the antimicrobial commonly used for treatment of vaginosis and state if susceptibility testing is required.
• Describe bacterial vaginosis.
• Describe other infections that may be caused by vaginalis.

Course Revisions: Erin Jansen, MLT

Original Author: Helen Smith, MLT

Version Date: November 2021

PEP hours: 10.5

CPS credits: 0

*Note: PEP hours and/or CPS credits will only be awarded upon successful completion of Final Exam.

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