Course Outline
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- Introduction
- Staphylococcus aureus
- General Characteristics
- S. aureus Virulence Factors
- Which factor would not attribute to the pathogenicity of S. aureus, as well as the frequency with which this organism produces infections?
- Clinical Significance of S. aureus
- Beta-lactam Antibiotics and S. aureus
- Which of these describes the mode of action of the beta-lactam class of antibiotics?
- Beta-lactam antibiotics interfere with cell wall synthesis by:
- MRSA
- Laboratory Diagnosis of MRSA
- Laboratory Identification of S. aureus
- Screening Cultures for MRSA
- Susceptibility Testing of Isolates
- Susceptibility Testing
- Selection of Drugs for Testing
- Interpretation of Oxacillin Broth Dilution Tests
- Interpretation of Oxacillin and Cefoxitin Disk Diffusion Tests
- Detection of Oxacillin Resistance
- Which of the following scenarios represents appropriate detection of MRSA by the Kirby Bauer method?
- A laboratory performs MIC tests, in addition to Kirby Bauer, and a PBP 2a assay on blood culture isolates. Which of the following isolates should be r...
- MRSA Treatment/Vancomycin Resistance in S. aureus
- MRSA Treatment/Vancomycin Resistance
- Vancomycin-Intermediate S. aureus (VISA) and Vancomycin-Resistant S. aureus (VRSA)
- Testing for Vancomycin Susceptibility
- Testing for Vancomycin Susceptibility
- A laboratory's primary susceptibility testing method is disk diffusion. The cefoxitin disk has a zone size of 19 mm and the vancomycin disk has a zone...
- Future Perspectives: MRSA
- Future Perspectives: MRSA
- Future Perspectives: MRSA, continued
- Moving forward, what is not considered an important strategy for dealing with MRSA strains?
- Enterococcus
- Enterococci
- Risk Factors and Resistance
- Enterococci can possess both intrinsic and acquired resistance. Which of the following represents acquired resistance of a typical enterococcal strain...
- Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci
- Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) Phenotypes
- Which statement concerning vancomycin resistance in enterococci is correct?
- Laboratory Diagnosis of VRE
- Treatment of Resistant Enterococci
- Newer Antibiotics for Treatment of Resistant Enterococci
- Clostridium Species
- Clostridioides difficile
- Clostridioides difficile
- C. difficile Toxin A and Toxin B
- Pathogenesis of C. difficile-Associated Diarrhea
- Risk Factors for C. difficile Infection
- C. difficile-Associated Diarrhea (CDAD)
- Strain BI/NAP1/027
- C. difficile disease is more likely to occur when:
- Laboratory Diagnosis of CDAD
- Laboratory Detection of C. difficile
- Stool Culture
- Cell Cytotoxicity Neutralization Assay (CCNA)
- Enzyme Immunoassay Methods
- Various methods have been employed for the detection of C. difficile disease: cultivation of the organism, cell cytotoxin neutralization assays, and e...
- Glutamate Dehydrogenase (GDH) Antigen Assays
- Molecular Methods
- Which of the following approaches for diagnostic testing have been indicated by recent literature?
- Treatment of C. difficile Infection
- Future Perspectives: CDI/CDAD
- Future Perspectives: CDI/CDAD
- Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales
- Laboratory Diagnosis of CRE
- Treatment and Control of CRE
- Future Perspectives: CRE
- References
Additional Information
Level of Instruction: Intermediate
Intended Audience: This course is intended for medical laboratory scientists, technicians, and those working in a microbiology lab. This course is also appropriate for medical laboratory science students and pathology residents.
Author Information:
Carolyn M. Law, PhD, MLS(AMT), is the CEO of Celtic Labs Diagnostic Microbiology Services in Trinidad. She holds a PhD in Microbiology from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth.
Catherine Dragoni, MLS(ASCP)SM, received her BS degree in medical technology from the State University of New York, Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse. She began her career as a bench microbiologist at Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine. Currently, she is the Assistant Chief Technologist of Microbiology and Molecular Pathology at NorDx Laboratories, Scarborough, Maine.
The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.
Reviewer Information: Judi Bennett, BSM, MLS(AMT), MLT(ASCP), is an Education Developer with MediaLab by Vastian and a medical laboratory professional with over 30 years of experience. She has held leadership roles, including Clinical Laboratory Manager, Microbiology Supervisor, and Senior Systems Analyst at Gwinnett Health System in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Judi is passionate about advancing healthcare quality through innovative and engaging laboratory education.
