UAM1 — UAM1 Task 2: Microbiology Lab Microbiology with Lab: A Fundamental Approach — D311 PRFA — UAM1

Many signs and symptoms of disease are common to several different microorganisms. For example, a sore throat and fever could be caused by a cold virus, influenza, a bacterial sinus infection, strep throat, allergies, or any number of other respiratory infections. It is often important to explicitly identify the organism causing the disease so that treatment can be targeted to the patient and infection. In this lab, you will learn about a subset of possible tests that are used to identify microbes causing an infection. In a real clinical setting, deciding which tests to use and the order they are performed are important decisions for minimizing cost and maximizing results by using the least number of instruments and tools to reach a conclusion.

To identify the unknown organism in this lab, you will be provided with a decision tree and lab manual that you will use to choose which test results to analyze until you are able to identify the unknown organism. You will only report on the tests that align with the decision tree, and you will discuss the Gram stain and two additional identification tests, based on the decision tree, only. This task ends with you proposing treatment for this organism based on the test results. You will write an original lab report to record and summarize your findings.

This lab will encourage critical thinking, analysis, reasoning, and decision-making that forges connections among complex systems while solving a problem.