Theory and practical examinations in microbiology are two components of examination for M.B.B.S. (2nd Prof.) examination. Practical examination in Microbiology may include the following exercises:
- Spots
- Staining
- Identification of bacterial culture
- Stool/Feces examination
- Spots: Five different spots with fixed time in the form of specimens-‘slides, glassware,’ media, etc. are kept for identification with related questions with spots to answer in one or two sentences.
- Staining (Bacterial exercise): Two smears are provided for staining, i.e. one for Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining and other for Albert's staining. Gram stain is done from bacterial growth for identification on a culture plate.
- Identification of bacterial culture (Bacterial exercise): Bacterial growth is provided for identification on a culture plate as well as in liquid medium.
- Stool/Feces examination (Parasitological exercise): Feces specimen is given for parasitological exercise and for isolation and identification of two pathogenic findings, i.e. cysts/ova.
Table 1 shows specimen copy of Practical question paper of Microbiology for M.B.B.S. (2nd Prof.) examination. Practical exercises may be modified as per requirement of various institutions/universities.
4
UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS
The following procedures should be used by all health care workers, including students, whose activities involve contact with patients or with blood or other body fluids. These procedures were developed to minimize the risk of transmitting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in a health care environment, but adherence to these guidelines will minimize the transmission of all nosocomial infections.
- Gloves should be worn when touching blood and body fluids, mucous membranes, and nonintact skin and when handling items or surfaces soiled with blood or body fluids. Gloves should be changed after contact with each patient.
- Hands and other skin surfaces should be washed immediately and thoroughly if contaminated with blood or other body fluids. Hands should be washed immediately after gloves are removed.
- Masks and protective eyewear or face shields should be worn during procedures that are likely to generate droplets of blood or other body fluids.
- Gowns or aprons should be worn during procedures that are likely to generate splashes of blood or other body fluids.
- To prevent needlestick injuries, needles should not be recapped, purposely bent or broken, or otherwise manipulated by hand. After disposable syringes and needles, scalpel blades, and other sharp items are used, they should be placed in puncture-resistant containers for disposal.
- Although saliva has not been implicated in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission, mouthpieces, resuscitation bags, and other ventilation devices should be available for use in areas in which the need for resuscitation is predictable. Emergency mouth-to-mouth resuscitation should be minimized.
- Health care workers who have exudative lesions or weeping dermatitis should refrain from all direct patient care and from handling patient-care equipment.
- Pregnant health care workers are not known to have a greater risk of contracting HIV infection than health care workers who are not pregnant; however, if a health care worker develops HIV infection during pregnancy, the infant is at risk of infection. Because of this risk, Pregnant health care workers should be especially familiar with, and strictly adhere to, precautions to minimize the risk of HIV transmission.
LABORATORY INSTRUCTIONS TO THE STUDENTS
The student should develop the habit of handling all cultures in the correct and safe manner. It is better to regard them all as potentially infective (See Universal precautions in general).
- White coat: Always wear a buttoned white coat or gown to prevent contamination of your cloths.
- Working place: Always keep the working space on the bench clear and do not keep books or papers and other material there.
- Moistoning- Do not moiston labels, pencil, etc. with tongue.
- Fingers and hands: While working in the laboratory, keep your fingers and hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Disinfection or discard of personal article: Any personal article which falls on the floor on other contaminated surface should be disinfected thoroughly or discard.
- Report all cuts, pricks and abrasions, howsoever slight, to your teacher or instructor.
- Culture tubes upright: Culture tubes must be kept upright in the racks or containers and are not to be laid on the bench. Cotton wool plugs should be held in hand without touching the part that goes inside the test tube. They should not laid on the bench.
- Stoppering: Tubes and bottles should be kept stoppered except when actually in use. The tip of the tube or bottle should be flamed immediately before and after use.
- Sterilize inoculating loops: Inoculating loops should be thoroughly sterilized by heating until the wire is red hot before and after use. Never put it down before sterilization.
- Disinfection: Put used slides, and pipettes in jars containing disinfectants.
- Microscope:
- Take care of your microscope after use. Clean all lenses of the microscope with the lens paper or clean cloth provided. The oil immersion lens should be cleaned with a little xylol.
- Wipe off all water or other material from the stage and other metal parts.
- All used slides, etc. to be put in the bucket provided and not in the sinks. Papers, etc. to be put in the bucket provided and not in the sinks.
- Spilling or splashing: If there is spilling or splashing of infective material, immediately report to one of the laboratory staff.
- Hair: All lady students must have their hair pinned up or inside the lab coat.
- Washing of hands: Always wash your hands with soap and water after completing your work and before leaving the laboratory.
- Cultures plates: Cultures plates to be kept closed when not in use.
KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Practical examination in Microbiology for M.B.B.S. (2nd Prof.) examination may include the following exercises: Spots; Staining; Identification of bacterial culture; Stool/Faeces examination.
- Read universal precautions for Microbiological practicals.
- Follow the practical instructions while working in microbiology laboratory.