Diagnostic microbiology is the study of microbial identification. Since the discovery of the germ theory of disease, scientists have been finding ways to harvest specific organisms. Using methods such as differential media or genome sequencing, physicians and scientists can observe novel functions in organisms for more effective and accurate diagnosis of organisms. Methods used in diagnostic microbiology are often used to take advantage of a particular difference in organisms attain information about what species it might be, often through a reference of previous studies. New studies provide information that other scientists can reference back to so scientists can have a baseline knowledge of the organism he or she are working with.

When culturing microbes, different organisms require different environments for optimal growing conditions.Anaerobic organisms require an oxygen free environment. When culturing anaerobic microbes, broths are often flushed with nitrogen gas to extinguish oxygen present, and growth can also occur on media in a chamber without oxygen present. Sodium resazurin can be added to indicate redox potential. Cultures are to be incubated in an oxygen free environment for 48 hours at 35oC before growth is examined.

Anaerobic bacteria collection can come from a variety of sources in patient samples, including blood, bile, bone marrow, cerebrospinal fluid, direct lung aspirate, tissue biopsies from a normally sterile site, fluid from a normally sterile site (like a joint), dental, abscess, abdominal or pelvic abscess, knife, gunshot, or surgical wound, or severe burn.

Incubation length Incubation times vary based upon the microbe that requires culturing. Traditional culturing techniques, for example, require less than 24 hours culture time for Escherichia coli but 6–8 weeks for successful culturing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis before definitive results are expressed. A benefit of non-culture tests is that physicians and microbiologists are not handicapped by waiting periods.

Incubation follows a growth curve variable for every microorganism. Cultures follow a lag, log, stationary, and finally death phase. The lag phase is not well known in microbiology, but it is speculated that this phase consists of the microorganism adjusting to its environment by synthesizing proteins specific for the surrounding habitat. The log phase is the period where a culture experiences logarithmic growth until nutrients become scarce. The stationary phase is when culture concentration is the highest and cells stop reproducing. When nutrients in the environment are depleting, organisms enter the death phase where toxic metabolites become abundant and nutrients are depleted to the point where cell death exceeds reproduction

Last Updated on: Jul 05, 2024