Abstract This paper deals with how spots occur (inflamed lesions), and their subsequent bacterial growth. It gives details into how the effect of various concentrations of anti-bacterial facewashes affect the spread of bacteria. A thorough experimental aceptic technique is made reference to in this paper.
From the Paper "A spot starts when a pore in the skin becomes blocked ? usually with oil (sebum) and dead skin cells, which the skin produces. As the pore becomes blocked, it becomes infected with bacteria, which are normally present on the surface of the skin. These bacteria breakdown the oil and dead cells to form chemicals which cause swelling, redness and the formation of an "inflamed lesion" or a SPOT."
Abstract This paper will discuss bacterial gingivitis in oral hygiene and explain why bacterial plaque plays a part in this decay. By understanding these dental facts, we can learn their relationships in gingivitis.
Abstract Chlamydia is the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease in America. It is a bacterial infection, readily treated with antibiotics, but often produces no symptoms. Chlamydia infects approximately four million people a year in the United States. This paper looks at the cause of the disease, its signs and symptoms, how it is treated, what nurses need to know when treating Chlamydia patients and how to prevent the transmission of Chlamydia during sexual intercourse
From the Paper "About half of all cases of Chlamydia infection occur in girls between the ages of 16 and 19, and as many as one in 10 sexually active teenage girls may be infected (2). This is because the immature cervix in girls is lined with fresh tissue easily susceptible to bacterial infection. The danger from infection with Chlamydia is that the infection does not stop at the cervix, but moves up to include the uterus and fallopian tubes, and the damage it causes may go undetected for years. Chlamydia infection may result in infertility by causing inflammation of the fallopian tubes, resulting in scarring and closing off of the tubes, preventing fertilization of eggs. This condition is known as pelvic inflammatory disease, a condition that affects up to one million women in the United States, and half of these cases may be due to Chlamydia."
An overview of peptic ulceration including a description of types of ulceration, pathophysiology, connections with H.pylori, drug treatments, after care and social factors.
Abstract This paper looks at the condition of peptic ulceration, a weakening of the gastric or duodenal mucosa, together with a possible infection with H. pylori. It shows how a combination of excessive acids, toxins from the bacterial infection and stress, anxiety and bad diet are all contributors to the symptoms as well as a chance of predisposition to the condition depending on social standing. It demonstrates how a healthy diet, lifestyle and moderate exercise are key methods in prevention.
Outline
Introduction
Disease Classification
Normal Physiology of the Gastro-Intestinal System
The Areas Affected by the Disorder and the Effects
The Role of Helicobacter Pylori
Symptoms/Features of Peptic Ulceration
Treatment
Lifestyle Changes and the Impact on the Patient
References
From the Paper "Bruce and Finlay (1997) describe a peptic ulcer is an erosion of the mucosal wall of the stomach, pylorus or duodenum caused by an imbalance between secretion of hydrochloric acid, the amount of mucous secretions and a reduction in neutralisation of gastric acid by duodenal, biliary and pancreatic juices (the acid-alkaline barrier). Symptoms rarely exist in the absence of acid-pepsin. Hobsley (1982) states there are two forms of peptic ulcer; acute and chronic. The acute ulcer can be found anywhere in the stomach or first part of the duodenum but is often seen in the antrum and is a shallow erosion of the mucosa. It is associated with stress and usually causes no serious symptoms unless it haemorrhages."
Abstract This paper describes the technique of Antibiotic Resistance Analysis (ARA), developed by Dr. Bruce Wiggins of James Madison University, as a means of differentiating between different sources of fecal pollution in the rivers and streams in the Rockingham County area. The paper reviews the latest Bacterial Source Tracking (BST) techniques and argues why ARA is needed. The paper also proposes a plan that would test the temporal stability of the existing watershed library.
From the Paper "Unsafe drinking water is a problem that not just third-world and developing countries face. Maintaining strict water quality standards is something any government should be responsible for, but it wasn?t until June 11th, 1999 that a lawsuit finally forced the Environmental Protection Agency to be more aware of the problem. The federal Clean Water Act of 1972 states that it is the federal government's job to identify impaired waters if the state government does not (3). This was the main argument of several grassroots organizations when they sued the EPA. They argued that the EPA must set total maximum daily load (TMDL) restrictions. TMDL means the maximum amount of a pollutant that a body of water can receive in one day, and still meet the water-quality standards. Furthermore, TMDLs must include a plan to lower the amount of pollutants for bodies of water that do not currently meet water-quality standards (3). The grassroots organizations won the lawsuit, and the court order mandated several changes take place. First, the EPA now ensures TMDL amounts, and also reviews Virginia's plans for each year. Moreover, "all readily available data and information must be used to identify the state's most heavily polluted waters" (3)."
Abstract This paper examines pertussis, or whooping cough as it is commonly known, a highly contagious bacterial disease that affects the respiratory system and produces bursts of numerous, rapid, high-pitched coughing in patients of any age. It looks at how, although this whooping sound is not always present, the patient suffers severe coughing attacks, without inhaling, that end in a piercing, crowing sound when inhaling. It also explores how the prevalence of whooping cough and its resurgence in our contemporary world is a cause for concern in the medical profession and how much of the present research has centered on causes for its resurgence.
From the Paper "Whooping cough is caused by a bacterial infection Bordetella Pertussis, which only lives in human throats. It invades the nose and throat, the breathing tube (trachea) and the lungs; it starts with symptoms similar to the common cold and progresses to spasms (paroxysms) of coughing after about 12 days. The incubation period is normally 7 days while the infection lasts about 6 weeks. Recovery begins about 4 weeks after the onset of symptoms; paroxysms of coughing may recur over the next few months, which is usually due to irritation caused due to an upper respiratory infection."
Abstract This paper is about the various forms of meningitis, and how they affect the body. Meningitis means an inflammation of the meninges, or the membrane around the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by a number of factors, but infectious meningitis is due to multiplication of fungal, viral or bacterial organisms. All may develop as the result of a compromised immune system, and may be secondary to other infections in the body. The paper goes on to cover signs and symptoms, types of meningitis and causes of the disease. This paper then discusses treatment and prevention (including preventing transmission of this highly contagious disease).
Outline:
Introduction
Etiology
Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis and Treatment
Conclusion
Bibliography
From the Paper "All three forms of meningitis have similar symptoms. These may include fever and leukocytosis, headache, and the inability to bend one's head at the neck. The symptoms can be quite confusing, as they overlap those of many other diseases, including influenza, a generalized infection or a common cold. For babies, symptoms may also parallel those of viral meningitis.
"These symptoms can include: fever, severe and persistent headache, vomiting, confusion, seizures (in more advanced cases), skin rash, confusion and a lower consciousness level, and a stiff neck (particularly when moving forward towards the chest).
"These symptoms may not be as frequent in babies or older adults, partly because of their inability to communicate their symptoms. In young children, for example, the symptoms may resemble the flue, with cough, breathing difficulties and fever. In babies, the symptoms can include rash, vomiting, a reduced appetite and body stiffness."
Abstract The writer points out that the purpose of this laboratory was to acquire fundamental knowledge and experience in microbiological procedures, specifically in growing bacterial colonies on a nutrient medium under controlled conditions. In this case, Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria were grown on nutrient agar, contamination was minimized by keeping the surroundings sterile, and all agar plates were incubated. The writer notes that the first part involved making five serial dilutions from a bacterial suspension in order to pinpoint colony numbers. The second experiment compared two methods of spreading bacteria across agar plates using streaks. The goal was to isolate single colonies. Lastly, the third portion of the laboratory involved replicating plates from a master plate in order to isolate strains of mutant bacteria onto different nutrient mediums and determine bacterial auxotrophy to these nutrients.
Outline:
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
References
From the Paper "In the streaking experiment, method B proved to be much more effective for isolating single colonies. The different streaking methods may have contributed to the morphological differences between the E. coli on the two plates. There were evident differences in the size and colour. Since method B was dominated by spaced out single colonies, the darker colour and larger size can be attributed to more nutrients being available to each colony, and more room (surface area) for growth. For the same reason, the more crowded groups of bacteria on the method A plate were a lighter colour and generally smaller. Aside from these two differences, the E. coli shared great resemblance, and based on morphology alone, should not be classified as different species. Nonetheless, the only way to determine whether or not two sets of visibly different bacteria are genetically different is to actually observe their DNA."
This well-researched paper analyzes the cause and effect of ventilator-acquired pneumonia (VAP) while also discussing treatment and prevention by way of routine oral care positioning.
Abstract This paper defines ventilator-acquired pneumonia (VAP) as a specific strain of bacterial pneumonia which takes place when one's general pulmonary defense system ceases to function properly due to high levels of bacteria. The writer of this paper contends and explains why this particular strain of infectious bacterial pneumonia is often incurred during extended hospital stays. This paper details the manner in which the disease is spread via bodily fluids such as tears and saliva. This paper analyzes the use of specialized oral care positioning to both treat and prevent cases VAP. This paper also examines the success rate of preventative oral care at the Vanderbilt Medical Center in Tennessee.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Oral Care to Reduce Ventilator Acquired Pneumonia
Elevating Heads of Beds for Patients on Mechanical Ventilation
Other Precautions
References
From the Paper "One of the places where changes have been implemented through oral care and there have been improvements is the surgical intensive care unit at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The incidence of ventilator assisted pneumonia was increasing at this hospital from 1999 to 2001. This led the center to start using comprehensive oral care from January 2002 as a part of a total program to remove the incidence of ventilator assisted pneumonia from the center. The change began to give perceptible results to the therapists and the nurses within a period of months. The changes were noted and within a two year period, there was a reduction of ventilator assisted pneumonia by as much as 46 percent. When the figures for 2002 are compared to figures for 2001, there is a clear decrease by 35 percent and there is another decrease that is seen in 2003 when compared to the figures of 2002."
Tags: cdc, intensive, care, unit, disease, saliva, plaque, oral, care, treatment, prevention
This paper is a complete research project to determine the rate of methicillin resistant staph aureus (MRSA) in the radiology department and the procedures most likely to be linked to its transmission to patients.
Abstract This study hypothesizes that patients are more likely to become exposed to methicillin resistant staph aureus (MRSA) in the radiology department via multi-use items, such as ultrasound probes using trans-dermal gel. The author reports that twelve bacterial isolates were recovered from ultrasound probes after typical cleaning procedures were used; however, no significant bacterial isolate was found on the endoscopes used for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The paper concludes that the risk of MRSA contamination in patients is higher in radiological procedures, which use multiple use probes cleaned only with local measures, rather than endoscopes, which undergo a rigorous timed and chemical disinfection process.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Hypothesis
Literature Review
Methodology
Methods and Procedures
Evaluation
Ethical Considerations
Dissemination
Budget
Human Subjects
Results
Conclusion
Discussion
Importance
Recommendations
From the Paper "One interesting study reviewed the use of maggots in the treatment of MRSA. While not specifically germane to the subject at hand, it will show what a significant problem this health care issue has become. In this study, it was felt that it was important to discover alternatives to antibiotic resistant wounds in which no other form of treatment appeared to suffice. The goal of the study was to find a way to combat wounds and promote a healing. Ultimately it was felt that maggot therapy has been seen to act on MRSA in wounds and constitutes another area in need of study, with greater emphasis on evidence based practice."
Abstract The paper explores the growing trends in antibiotic resistance and discusses non-conventional therapies for combating bacterial infection, which include use of probiotics. The paper explains how probiotics relieve bacterial infection, inflammation and help restore the balance of healthy bacteria in the gut. The paper also reviews evidence supporting the use of probiotics in lieu of or as complementary therapy when antibiotics are used to treat certain illnesses. The paper concludes that
more research should be conducted to examine the full potential benefits of probiotic therapy for patients with all kinds of diseases. The health and survival of mankind may depend on it.
Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
Literature Review
Conclusions
Appendix
From the Paper "The prevalence of antibiotic resistance has stimulated much interest in the use of probiotics or live microbial supplements to combat infections otherwise resistant to traditional antibiotic therapy. In recent years overuse of antibiotics have stimulated antibiotic resistant strains of disease rendering antibiotics useless in many cases (Diped, 2003).
"While the discovery of antibiotics marked a changing point in modern medicine, in recent years scientists have begun to realize that the health benefits of antibiotics may be much more short lived than initially anticipated. As such researchers are struggling to find complementary and alternative methods for treating drug resistant forms of disease that antibiotic therapy once proved sufficient for."
Tags: infection, alternative, complementary, medicine
From the Paper "Ethnobotany, the study of how native peoples use plants, is a complex mixture of sociology, anthropology, botany, economics, ecology, and medicine (9). Most modern medicines are derivatives of, or synthetic forms of, chemical compounds found naturally in plants. Twenty-five to 40 percent of prescriptions in the U. S. use compounds which are derived from plants, and the World Health Organization estimates that 80 percent of the earth's population use plants for primary medical care (1,9). Of the more than 250,000 known plant species, only about 5,000 have been examined chemically for medicinal properties. This paper will look at some of the work being done by researchers to prove the effectiveness of natural remedies for bacterial and fungal infections, and on diseases such as cancer.
In the early 16th century, European explorers brought the..."
Abstract Scientific description of gene action & gene products. Describes research studies & methods. Bacterial clones. Phenotypes of genes; post embryonic phenotypes. Types & functions of genes. Genes responsbible for axonal guidance in the developing brain. Experiments & various techniques used by researchers. How genes mediate their effects on an organism.
From the Paper "Fraser et al (2000) used RNA-mediated interference (RNAi) to target approximately 90 percent of the predicted genes on C. elegans chromosome 1 by feeding these worms with a bacterium that expresses double-stranded RNA. RNAi transiently inhibits the activity of a gene by introducing double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) with a sequence specific to the target gene. Feeding these bacteria to the worms makes it possible to produce a library of dsRNA-expressing bacteria that can then be used for high-throughput genome-wide RNAi screens at very low cost. The only drawback to this technique is that RNAi does not efficiently inhibit all genes, so the method will miss some relevant genes.
Using such a library of bacteria which express dsRNA responding to genes on chromosome 1, this group were able to..."
Abstract This report explains in detail the function, structure and assembly of flagella in E.coli and Salmonella, using plain language and a number of diagrams. Movement (chemotaxis) is the primary function of flagella but its design also incorporates efficient repair capability and antigenic variation. In Salmonella and E.coli the flagellar filament is a homopolymer of flagellin monomers, although other species (such as Helicobacter) build their flagella from mixtures of two types of subunit. All the properties of the functioning filament are reflected in the structure of the flagellin monomer, which has conserved and variable regions, regions targeted by chaperones and coiling enzymes and regions evolved specifically for interaction between monomers. Chemotaxis is driven by a proton motive force (as in oxidative phosphorylation) and the basal complex that converts this energy into rapid rotation of the flagellum is highly complex.
From the Paper "Many bacteria are motile and exhibit chemotaxis ? migration through the extracellular medium towards attractants (e.g. carbon sources), and away from repellents (e.g. antibiotics). The majority move using flagella ?protein structures variable in number and position (Box 1) that generate thrust by rotating like propellers. Flagella are 15nm in diameter and can be observed under light microscopy after thick metal staining or using advanced microscopy techniques such as electron microscopy. Because of the competitive advantages of chemotaxis, there has been strong selection for efficient chemotactic apparatus and flagellar efficiency. The flagellum is based in the bacterial surface layers where a complex array of proteins forms the flagellar motor. Resembling the electric rotary motor and the membrane-bound F1F0-ATPase, and powered by a proton influx across the inner membrane, this highly efficient machine is merely 30nm in diameter. Its mechanism is the subject of ongoing research."
