Purpose
Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) occur when pathogens invade and reproduce in damaged skin and soft tissues. The purpose of this lab is to become familiar with common SSTI pathogens, develop skills required to work with mixed cultures, and to learn how to test pathogens for antibiotic resistance.
Students receive a case study patient with a simulated wound exudate sample containing an unknown pathogen and two non-pathogenic skin colonizers. They have four lab periods to determine which pathogen is causing the infection. they will then test that pathogen for resistance to their first-line antibiotic treatments.
Objectives
After completing this lab, you will be able to:
- identify the common causes of SSTI infections
- isolate and identify bacteria from mixed cultures
- Interpret the results of common biochemical and morphological tests used to diagnose SSTIs
- test bacteria for antibiotic resistance
- use latex agglutination to identify bacteria