Assignment:
Microorganism Profile
Introduction
This project requires the ability to understand and apply scientific knowledge that you acquire both inside and outside the microbiology classroom. You will construct a comprehensive profile of a microorganism that you are assigned by the instructor. This microorganism is a pathogen that you may encounter in your nursing career. As you progress through the Worksheet, you will be asked to fill in blanks, complete tables, and provide written explanations in your own words. All written answers are expected to meet accepted standards for grammar, syntax, and punctuation. Proper microbiology terminology is also expected. The completed Worksheet is to be submitted electronically via the Assignment Drop Box in Canvas.
The Big Picture
As you progress through this course, you will acquire information in a sequential, topic-specific manner. Each topic will include information that is relevant to this assignment. For example, the knowledge you gain from the lesson on bacterial cell morphology will be applied to the first Worksheet topic, Cell Morphology and Growth Requirements. Your answers are expected to include information from sources that go beyond the textbook or classroom. Examples include peer-reviewed journal articles, interviews with clinicians who deal with microbes on a daily basis, personal experiences, and other reputable sources. You are expected to clearly understand the meaning of each topic before you construct your answer. For example, you are expected to know the meaning of "epidemiology" and to understand the topics that are connected to it. Don't forget to read and understand the rubric before you start. Refer to it often - it will help guide you through the process.
Microorganism Profile Worksheet
1. Description of the Microorganism:
a. Write a paragraph describing your organism. Please be sure to include the type of organism (bacterial, viral, fungal, protozoa, helminth, etc), morphology (shape, arrangement, colony morphology if applicable), description of structure (gram result, type of nucleic acid or virion structure, spore type, etc if applicable) and also the type of microscope and/or stain you would use to view the organism. Please use proper scientific terminology and good grammar and sentence structure throughout this project.
2. Virulence Factors:
a. Include a paragraph on the virulence factors the pathogen has and how they affect the host. Please enhance this with detailed explanations of the virulence factors and how they affect the host as you gain a better understanding of them throughout the semester.
3. Immunity:
a. Which defenses protect us from infection by this bacterium?
b. Does this pathogen induce a specific type of immune response (example: delayed-type hypersensitivity)? If so, which one(s)?
4. Infectious Disease Information:
a. What condition(s) or infectious diseases does it cause?
b. Which tissues or organs are affected, and how are they affected (for example, chronic TB is characterized by lung tubercles)?
c. Describe the complications that can result if the infection is left untreated.
d. Are these acute, chronic, or latent infections?
e. What organ system(s) does it infect?
f. Is it an opportunistic pathogen? If so, where is it normally found in the body?
5. Epidemiology:
a. Draw and label diagram on how this organism is transmitted. Make sure you include the reservoirs of infection, and vectors in involved in transmission, the type of transmission and the portals of entry and exit.
6. Presentations:
a. Provide a written, detailed description of a hypothetical patient. Be imaginative and create a hypothetical situation that would correspond with your microorganism. This is expected to be at least 8-10 sentences in length and is expected to be comprehensive and detailed. You are expected to include descriptions of:
i. Signs and symptoms, using correct terminology
ii. Patient history, including any situation that could expect how the infection was acquired (for example, if a food-borne intoxication is involved, when and how it could have been ingested?).
iii. Any data-specific indicators that would be important in a clinical setting, for example, urea or sugar levels in the blood or urine, elevated WBC, elevated CO2 levels, etc.
7. Prevention:
a. Is there a childhood vaccine against this microbe? Name the vaccine
b. If so, when is it administered (the recommended schedule, including boosters)?
c. If the vaccine is not recommended during childhood, which at-risk group should get the vaccine, and when?
d. Describe the type of vaccine and how it works
e. If there is no vaccine available, list at least three measures that can be implemented to prevent transmission of this infection.
8. Treatment:
a. Chemotherapeutic agents:
b. Mechanism of action for these chemotherapeutic agents:
c. Why this agent is efficacious against this particular organism?
d. Additional therapeutic agents or practices:
9. Clinical Relevance:
a. Are there any Multi-Drug Resistant strains of this microorganism? If so, name the strain(s).
b. Is this strain a known healthcare-associated pathogen?
c. Which persons/procedures within a clinical or healthcare-assisted settings are particularly at risk?
d. Which antibiotics are used against the MDR strains? Be specific.
10. References: Include at least 4 APA style references (scientifically appropriate, credible resources) that show where you found the information in this microorganism profile.