CAP Pro Course - Microbiology - Microbiology of the Gastrointestinal Tract

Continuing Education Credits

• P.A.C.E.® Contact Hours: 1 hour(s)
• Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Science CE Credit Hours -
  General (Microbiology/Mycology/Parasitology): 1 hour(s)

Objectives

• Identify clinical pathogens associated with common gastrointestinal tract infections.
• Compare and contrast various methods of specimen collection, specimen transport, and specimen storage for gastrointestinal pathogen testing.
• Outline common clinical testing methods used to identify gastrointestinal pathogens.
• Analyze communication tools used for reporting results of gastrointestinal pathogen testing and their effectiveness in preventing the spread of identified gastrointestinal pathogens.

Course Outline

• Identify clinical pathogens associated with common gastrointestinal tract infections.
• Common Causes of GI Tract Infections: General Information
• Common GI Pathogens: Sources of Infection, Incubation Periods, Symptoms, and Treatment
• Dominant Pathogens Associated with Specific GI Tract Anatomical Sites
• All of the following organisms are transmitted via contaminated food and water, except:
• Why is the ability to distinguish between commensal flora and pathogenic organisms in the GI tract significant?
• Compare and contrast various methods of specimen collection, specimen transport, and specimen storage for gastrointestinal pathogen testing.
• Specimen Collection, Transport, Storage, and Volume Requirements
• Stool Specimen Guide
• Specimen Processing
• Many specimens for GI testing are received in the laboratory daily. Which of the following specimens would be acceptable for testing?
• A fresh (unpreserved) stool sample is submitted to the laboratory for a stool culture at 11:00 AM. The patient states that the sample was stored in th...
• A 56-year-old man presents to a clinic in rural Montana complaining of abdominal pain and diarrhea for the past 48 hours. The physician would like to ...
• When working with patients, it is important not to make assumptions about their knowledge of specimen collection practices. A patient inquires about h...
• You are working on the microbiology specimen processing bench receiving specimens from outpatient clinics. As you receive specimens, you must be sure ...
• Outline common clinical testing methods used to identify gastrointestinal pathogens.
• Quick Reference Guide to Identification of Common Pathogens
• Standard Culture Methods of Identification: Aeromonas and Plesiomonas
• Standard Culture Methods for Identification: Campylobacter
• Standard Culture Methods for Identification: E. coli O157:H7 and Clostridioides difficile
• Standard Culture Methods for Identification: Salmonella and Shigella
• Standard Culture Methods for Identification: Yersinia and Vibrio
• Standard Identification Methods: Intoxication (Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium botulinum, and Bacillus cereus)
• Standard Methods for Identification: Parasites and Viruses
• Non-Culture Testing Methods for Gastrointestinal (GI) Pathogens
• All of the following organisms will grow on sheep blood agar at 37°C, except:
• For which of the following gastrointestinal pathogens is a vaccine available?
• Multiple patient samples have been submitted to the laboratory as part of an outbreak investigation. It was discovered that all of the patients consum...
• A 26-year-old woman presents to the emergency department showing signs of dehydration with complaints of diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, a...
• While interpreting a stool culture at 24 hours, you observe dark pink colonies on the MacConkey plate (MAC) but colorless colonies on the sorbitol Mac...
• Three days after the flooding began in Louisiana, multiple patients submit stool samples for analysis. Clinically, the patients report watery diarrhea...
• A 17-year-old boy reports abdominal pain, diarrhea, and a fever that began two days ago. He discloses an unremarkable history and mentions that his sy...
• Multiple patients have arrived at the local clinic with complaints of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The patients state that the symptoms began aroun...
• Analyze communication tools used for reporting results of gastrointestinal pathogen testing and their effectiveness in preventing the spread of identified gastrointestinal pathogens.
• Preliminary Versus Final Result Reporting and Expected Turnaround Times
• Reports: Hospital Infection Control and Public Health Agencies
• Which of the following test methods would NOT typically have results available within 72 hours?
• In a hospital setting, what is the most common gastrointestinal pathogen isolated?
• The microbiology department, infection prevention nurses, and infectious disease doctors are in the process of reviewing the infection control policie...
• References
• References

Additional Information