INTRODUCTION TO MICROBIOLOGY

Microbiology defined as the study of organisms and agents too small to be seen clearly by the unaided eye—that is the study of microorganisms.

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• Because objects less than about one millimeter in diameter cannot be seen clearly and must be examined with a microscope.

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WHY IS MICROBIOLOGY IMPORTANT IN NURSING ?

Microbiology is important in nursing because it helps nurses:

• Prevent, diagnose, and treat infections in their patients.
• Identify the type of microorganism causing an infection and the appropriate treatment.
• Ensure patient safety and public health by collecting specimens, participating in immunization programs, and conducting research and development.

Historically Significant Discoveries In Microbiology

The Discovery of Microorganisms

• Invisible living creatures were thought to exist and were thought to be responsible for disease long before they were observed.

Antony van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723)

• constructed microscopes
• first person to observe and describe microorganisms.

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• He discovered bacteria, free-living and parasitic microscopic protozoa, sperm cells, blood cells, microscopic nematodes , and much more. His researches, which were widely circulated, opened up an entire world of microscopic life to the awareness of scientists.

Louis Pasteur's Experiment

• Louis Pasteur was studying the roles of microorganisms in fermentation of beer and wine.
• He believed the process was brought about by the activities of microbes.
• He also believed that air and dust were the source of microbes.
• He fills two flasks with broth and attached their openings to swan-neck shaped tubes.
• He heated both flasks to sterilize the broth and then incubated them.

Results

• As long as the flask remained intact, the broth remained sterile
• If the tube was broken, dust could fall into the container and bacterial growth commenced.

Conclusion

• A sterile solution remains sterile unless contaminated with germs.

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Redi’s Experiment

Setup:

• Jar 1: with no lid and meat inside.
• Jar 2: closed with a lid and meat inside.
• Jar 3: gauze placed on top of jar.

Results

• The open jar attracted flies which laid eggs and hatched into maggots on the meat.
• The closed jar had no flies or maggots.
• The jar with the gauze had maggots on the gauze and not on the meat.

Conclusion

• The maggots were the offspring of the flies and NOT some

“vital force” in the meat that produced them.

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Robert Koch (1843-1910).

• German microbiologist Contemporary of Pasteur
• Worked on anthrax , tuberculosis, and cholera
• Used pure cultures.
• Developed the germ theory of disease.

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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EU & PROKARYOTES.

CLASSIFICATION OF BACTERIA

• Analysis of microbial cell composition shows that over 95% of cell dry weight is made up of a few major elements;Carbon,Oxygen,Hydrogen,Nitrogen,Sulfur,Phosphorus,Potassium,Calcium, Magnesium and iron these are called macroelements or macronutrients because they are required by microorganism for their growth.

Different shapes of a bacterial cell are:

• Spherical- Cocci.
• Rod-shaped- Bacilli.
• Spiral bacteria.
• Comma shaped- Vibrio

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