Microscopic Examination Of Bacteria Research Articles

Public Awareness and Educational Activities to Improve Knowledge and Understanding of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Japan

BACKGROUND Public awareness and education are important avenues?for promoting countermeasures for antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and November has been designated as AMR awareness month in Japan since 2016. Accordingly, our objective was to investigate effective activities to improve knowledge and understanding of AMR targeted at the public. METHODS A public awareness campaign was implemented in Mie prefecture (population:1.8 million) in Japan in November 2017 and 2018. We made leaflets and posters announcing AMR awareness month and open lecture event for citizens and distributed them to all hospitals (n=100), healthcare facilities for the elderly (n=262), and health insurance pharmacies (n=722) in Mie Prefecture. We set up billboard posters at the Tsu railway station (twenty-six thousand passengers?daily), distributed leaflets in front of the station and in shopping centers, and advertised the event using a local circular notice. We also perform bus wrapping advertisement to grasp intention of citizens. RESULTS One hundred and 10 citizens in 2017 and 157 in 2018 participated in the open lecture event for citizens entitled “Let's got together well with bacteria and the medicine: Let's know AMR”. We gave a lecture and set up an experience booth for the public to learn how to wash their hands and to make a microscopic examination of bacteria. We made original balls, can batches, magnets and bags printed with an original AMR image character and message as communication materials, and distributed them to participants. Half of the participants knew the term “AMR” on a questionnaire in 2018. Our educational activities were introduced on local TV and newspaper. CONCLUSIONS The term “AMR” was not familiar with citizens until a few years ago, however, half of participants in the 2018 open lecture already knew it. Our bundle approach to the public may have an impact on improving knowledge and understanding of AMR.

The Ames Clinitek 200/Multistix 9 urinalysis method compared with manual and microscopic methods.

We assayed 315 urine specimens by the Ames Clinitek 200/Multistix 9 semi-automated method and by corresponding standard methods (listed in parentheses) for the following analytes: protein (sulfosalicylic acid precipitation), glucose (Lilly Tes-Tape), ketones (Boehringer Mannheim Chemstrip K), leukocyte esterase (microscopic examination for leukocytes), blood (microscopic examination for erythrocytes), nitrite (microscopic examination for bacteria, Gram stain, or culture), and pH (pH meter). The Clinitek and standard methods agreed well at all concentrations for protein, ketones, and glucose. The Clinitek leukocyte esterase, nitrite, and blood methods were less sensitive than microscopic methods for detection of pyuria, bacteriuria, and hematuria, respectively. The Clinitek pH method produced falsely low pH values for urines with true pH less than 6.5, and falsely high values for urines with true pH greater than 6.5.

Practical procedure for demonstrating bacterial flagella.

We developed a simple, rapid method for demonstrating bacterial flagella with Ryu staining solution that gave satisfactory results for numerous motile and nonmotile bacteria. Two major advantages of this method are that the staining solution, ready for use, is stable at ambient temperature indefinitely and that microscopic examination of bacteria in the stained drop preparations can be performed rapidly.

Microscopic examination of bacteria in Fe(III)-oxide deposited from ground water

Ochreous sludge deposited in the course of aeration of ground water contained an assortment of bacterial forms and structures which were investigated by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Bacterial structures were often covered by iron deposition which could be removed by acidification of the samples. Sulfuric acid treatment was consistently better than hydrochloric acid to dissolve iron without a considerable damage to the bacterial cells. Partial dissolution of amorphous ferric iron was achieved by acidifying the samples with oxalic acid or citric acid prior to the preparation for electron microscopy.

Screening tests for bacteriuria. A validity study.

An evaluation of numerous reported studies indicated that the most useful screening tests for significant bacteriuria appear to be a nitrite test (modified by adding nitrate and incubating at 37 C), the triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) test, and microscopic examination for bacteria. A study of 1,151 urine specimens submitted for routine culture showed that microscopic examination of the centrifuged deposit for organisms or pus cells, or both, was a more sensitive test for significant bacteriuria than the modified nitrite test. Microscopic examination detected 98% of 175 urine specimens with significant gram negative bacilluria, and 17 of 20 with significant numbers of gram positive cocci. The false positive rate was 13%. Microscopy may be better than the chemical screening tests in the selection of urine specimens for cultural examination.