Identification of unknown Lab

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Student: Manoj

Phases Complete 8 of 8 phases.

Phase Resets Phase 1: 0 Phase 2: 0 Phase 3: 0 Phase 4: 0 Phase 5: 0 Phase 6: 0 Phase 7: 0 Phase 8: 0 Phase 9: 0

CASE REPORT: Following hip replacement surgery, 90 year-old James was anticipating his transfer to a rehabilitation center, when he suddenly spiked a fever of 38.5°C (normal body temperature is 37°C). He started experiencing chest pain and difficulty breathing. The attending physician noticed some crackles and abnormal lung sounds by stethoscope exam. A chest X-ray showed fluid accumulating in his lungs, a clear sign of lower respiratory tract infection and pneumonia. A sputum specimen was collected in a sterile container and promptly delivered to the microbiology laboratory. The sample was marked ‘STAT’ for unknown organism identification before James’s lung function was compromised and he would need to be put on a ventilator. The laboratory team isolated the organism into pure culture and it was provided to you on a nutrient agar plate and in a liquid broth culture tube for further investigation.

Case Introduction Questions Based on the information in the case, what organism(s) could or should be suspected to cause this scenario? Select all that apply. Escherichia coli Klebsiella pneumoniae Streptococcus pneumoniae Serratia marcescens

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Now that a pure culture has been isolated for you, what would be a good starting procedure to begin classifying your unknown organism?

Gram staining

Collected Lab Data Test Result

Gram staining

Gram (-) bacilli

Oxidase test No color was noted on swab, concluded as oxidase (-)

Lactose fermentation Pink-to-purple colonies were noted on MacConkey agar, unknown bacteria was concluded as lactose fermentation (+)

Methyl red test No reaction was noted in MR-VP tube, unknown bacteria was concluded to be methyl red (-)

Motility test No movement away from inoculation line was noted in tube, unknown bacterium was concluded to be (-) for motility

Unknown bacterium identification Klebsiella pneumoniae

Completed Dichotomous Key

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