Best Antimicrobial Agents for Combatting Three Unknown Bacteria - Analysis and Recommendations

Materials and Methods

The Scenario: [IMAGINE] You are a college student taking part in an internship program in the microbiology lab of a hospital. Recently, the rate of nosocomial infections in patients has risen sharply. Further- more, when some disinfected instruments and surfaces were cultured for microorganisms, bacterial growth was observed. After the better part of a month of culturing and sub- culturing, the nosocomial culprits have proven to be 3 unknown bacteria. Your laboratory has been asked to determine the following:  The best disinfectant to target all three bacteria as a group The best antiseptic to target all three bacteria as a group  The best antibiotic with which to treat an individual infected with all three bacteria simultaneously You and your lab mates decided to use the Kirby Bauer Method for determining sensitivity to antimicrobial agents (Lab Atlas pg.223-225). Paper discs for the experiment were impregnated with the following antimicrobial agents: Disinfectants Hypochlorite Bleach Quaternary Ammonium Compound 70% Alcohol • Iodine Hydrogen peroxide Sodium hydroxide Antiseptics 70% Alcohol Iodine Hydrogen Peroxide Antibiotics Penicillin Tetracycline Erythromycin Streptomycin Neomycin The impregnated discs were placed onto agar plates streaked with the three organisms of interest. After incubation, the plates were removed and observed. Absence of growth around the discs was considered an indication that the microbe was sensitive to that antimicrobial agent. The diameters of these Zones of Inhibition were measured and recorded. The Assignment: Using the gathered data provided to you on the last 3 pages of the directions, write an analysis and provide recommendations as to the appropriate antimicrobials to use against the three bacteria (select the best antibiotic, antiseptic, and disinfectant to combat the 3 bacteria). 1. Your introduction for your analysis is the scenario presented above. The purpose of your analysis is to present the best disinfectant, antiseptic, and antibiotic to combat the 3 unknown bacteria to the board of the hospital. 2. Your materials and methods sections describes the background and steps of the Kirby- Bauer Method. • Your results section should include a display of the provided data located in the last three pages of the directions. The data should be displayed in bar graphs. There should be text accompanying the graphical representation of the data. The text should state any noticed results to include the best disinfectant, antiseptic, and antibiotic. The text should also present any other noticed data. Remember the reader. Figures should be easily read and interpreted. • Avoid putting too much information in your figures. Several small figures followed by a larger summary figure are often more reader friendly. • All figures should be named, labeled and referred to in your text. • To keep your text and figures from getting too dense, you may choose to present your data as averages rather than individual points of data. 3. Your analysis of your data in the conclusions section should shape the data into coherent arguments supporting your conclusions. The data should also be discussed in terms of ‘real world’ applications. Do not lose sight of the purpose of your experiments. 4. In your analysis you should compare the drawbacks and benefits of choosing a particular disinfectant, antiseptic, or antibiotic (i.e. safety, cost, side effects, effects on inanimate materials, mode of administration). 5. Also, suggest future experiments to address any anomalous data or observations (see lab atlas for suggestions as well as develop future experiments). 6. A reference page is required. • The lab atlas must be referenced for the Kirby-Bauer Method and any other information you use • Any cost comparison, benefits/drawback, side effect, and safety information concerning the antimicrobial agents must be referenced o When using Microsoft Word, look at the top of your screen. There you will see a menu. Use the “References” menu heading to collect your references as you write you analysis. The “References” tab will create your reference page for you once you have completed your paper. The written analysis should be no less than three pages and no longer than seven pages including figures (not including the Title page and the References page). In your lecture textbook, Chapters 13 and 14 will be helpful in writing your analysis. Your lab report should be typed in MLA style. Please visit the Writing Support Lab page if you need help with this style of writing. Your lab report should include the following: • Title page • Introduction • Materials and Methods • Results • Discussion or Conclusions (either heading will suffice) • Reference page o All of the above mentioned content • 12pt, Times New Roman font; Double spaced ? Use the collected data sheets below as your results. Antimicrobial Agent Trial One Zone of Inhibition(mm) Trial Two Zone of Inhibition(mm) Trial Three Zone of Inhibition(mm) Hypochlorite, Bleach 40 41 44 QAC, Lysol 10 14 4 70% Alcohol 0 0 0 Iodine 20 16 17 Hydrogen Peroxide 33 35 35 Sodium Hydroxide 0 6 5 Penicillin (P) 0 0 0 Tetracycline (TE) 21 22 22 Erythromycin (E) 0 0 0 Streptomycin (S) 33 29 34 Neomycin 5 6 6 Antimicrobial Agent Trial One Zone of Inhibition(mm) Trial Two Zone of Inhibition(mm) Trial Three Zone of Inhibition(mm) Hypochlorite, Bleach 45 42 46 QAC, Lysol 11 17 12 70% Alcohol 0 0 0 Iodine 0 7 7 Hydrogen Peroxide 32 30 27 Sodium Hydroxide 5 7 7 Penicillin (P) 38 52 46 Tetracycline (TE) 28 17 20 Erythromycin (E) 0 0 0 Streptomycin (S) 33 32 25 Neomycin (N) 0 0 0 Antimicrobial Agent Trial One Zone of Inhibition(mm) Trial Two Zone of Inhibition(mm) Trial Three Zone of Inhibition(mm) Hypochlorite, Bleach 31 32 30 QAC, Lysol 15 13 14 70% Alcohol 11 10 11 Iodine 10 12 11 Hydrogen Peroxide 22 20 24 Sodium Hydroxide 0 0 0 Penicillin (P) 0 0 0 Tetracycline (TE) 17 15 18 Erythromycin (E) 7 6 7 Streptomycin (S) 22 23 29 Neomycin (N) 12 10 15