Busy month for me! Sorry I haven't been posting as much as I'd like, but things have really picked up at the lab and I've had more paperwork than I can handle. There's been a nasty virus affecting the population of white-tailed deer in the Midwest, and I've been working on figuring out a way to help control the spread of this encephalitis-causing pathogen. It's not contagious to humans, but it is contagious to livestock, and as you can imagine it's been quite the workload just dealing with testing all the samples from sick cows all over the US!
Aside from the work with that, however (which has been going much better than expected and is being handled by my lab techs expertly), I've also got another announcement to make, and it's with excitement and a little regret that I say these next words. I won't be able to update and answer your questions for a while.
The reason for this is that I've been called out to the West Coast Branch of the CDC for several months to do some research into what is believed to be a new drug-resistant MRSA strain that has recently been discovered in California. They have had a fairly severe outbreak of infections in immunocompromised individuals in the hospitals there, and they'd like me to take a look at their findings because they are short-staffed (pun not intended). Because of the large amount of work I'll be doing, I won't have much time to post on this blog. In fact, it might be several months or more before I get back to posting here. I'm sorry for the disappointment, but I'll be sure to get back to posting here as soon as I can, at least to give an update on how the project is going.
Friday, October 18, 2013
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
A Typical Day at the Lab...
It's come to my attention that a few of you have been interested in knowing how we run things here at the CDC. Luckily for you, I snuck in my digital camera and took some photos of the more public-interest areas of the laboratory, for slide show use. I can't show you the really cool, big labs unfortunately due to protocol, but I can show you what life's like on the inside...
A typical set-up for part of our microbiology lab. Pictured instruments include a computer, a microscope for viewing stained slides, a slide warmer to dry samples on slides, incubation timers, and cleaning supplies. Typically there is also a plate-counting bench, although it seems ours isn't pictured here!
Here, Dr. Wahlburn checks some agar plates that have incubated for signs of bacterial growth. Agar plate streaking is a technique used to grow colonies of bacteria, and check for overzealous bacterial growth in a sample of something. A cotton-tipped swab is dipped into a sample, usually sent from somewhere that wants us to test an item or food for bacteria, and then repeatedly swiped over a sterile petri dish filled with agar jelly (a sugar-rich growth material made from algae that bacteria love). The petri dish is then labeled, dated, and placed in an incubator to grow. Once a certain amount of time has passed (generally anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, or even just overnight), the petri dish is removed and the number of colonies is counted. If there are many of them, the sample is contaminated. If there aren't more than 30 colonies, then the sample is not considered heavily contaminated.
Microbiology Technician Lisa Marie sits patiently as I take a shot over her shoulder. Here, she is streaking an agar plate to test for dangerous strains of E. coli. After she is done plating this sample, she will clean the sterile fume hood she is working in with rubbing alcohol, which will kill off any stray bacteria that could contaminate other samples and cause false readings. Her tools will also be cleaned with rubbing alcohol. Sterilization of testing equipment is of utmost importance in epidemiology!
Dr. Allison Jade prepares to place a sample into an instrument specialized for testing water samples for Campylobacter ("Campy"), a bacterium that occurs in contaminated water and causes vomiting and diarrhea. Many times, in areas where flooding or drinking water contamination are suspected, a test for Campy is run to make sure the water is safe. If the test is positive, then the water is not safe to drink and must be monitored until it is cleaned up. Once samples of the water test negative for Campylobacter and other water-borne pathogens, the water is safe to drink again.
Hey, it's me! As the Senior scientist of my lab, I do a lot of research and paperwork. Shown here is the boring part - the office work. At the end of the day, I review all the lab data that was taken and make sure it's all up to snuff. In my office, I can see all the data from today's tests, as well as yesterday's and as far back as 30 years ago. That's a lot of data! There's some very strict guidelines required for testing, so I have to make sure all of the data is properly formatted so I can report to my superiors. The paperwork is the easy part, it's the rigorous testing in the laboratories here that's hard work! All of this work is important in keeping communities safe, hospitals and food prep places sanitary, and keeping tabs on infectious diseases and outbreaks. All part of a day's work!
A typical set-up for part of our microbiology lab. Pictured instruments include a computer, a microscope for viewing stained slides, a slide warmer to dry samples on slides, incubation timers, and cleaning supplies. Typically there is also a plate-counting bench, although it seems ours isn't pictured here!
Here, Dr. Wahlburn checks some agar plates that have incubated for signs of bacterial growth. Agar plate streaking is a technique used to grow colonies of bacteria, and check for overzealous bacterial growth in a sample of something. A cotton-tipped swab is dipped into a sample, usually sent from somewhere that wants us to test an item or food for bacteria, and then repeatedly swiped over a sterile petri dish filled with agar jelly (a sugar-rich growth material made from algae that bacteria love). The petri dish is then labeled, dated, and placed in an incubator to grow. Once a certain amount of time has passed (generally anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, or even just overnight), the petri dish is removed and the number of colonies is counted. If there are many of them, the sample is contaminated. If there aren't more than 30 colonies, then the sample is not considered heavily contaminated.
Microbiology Technician Lisa Marie sits patiently as I take a shot over her shoulder. Here, she is streaking an agar plate to test for dangerous strains of E. coli. After she is done plating this sample, she will clean the sterile fume hood she is working in with rubbing alcohol, which will kill off any stray bacteria that could contaminate other samples and cause false readings. Her tools will also be cleaned with rubbing alcohol. Sterilization of testing equipment is of utmost importance in epidemiology!
Dr. Allison Jade prepares to place a sample into an instrument specialized for testing water samples for Campylobacter ("Campy"), a bacterium that occurs in contaminated water and causes vomiting and diarrhea. Many times, in areas where flooding or drinking water contamination are suspected, a test for Campy is run to make sure the water is safe. If the test is positive, then the water is not safe to drink and must be monitored until it is cleaned up. Once samples of the water test negative for Campylobacter and other water-borne pathogens, the water is safe to drink again.
Hey, it's me! As the Senior scientist of my lab, I do a lot of research and paperwork. Shown here is the boring part - the office work. At the end of the day, I review all the lab data that was taken and make sure it's all up to snuff. In my office, I can see all the data from today's tests, as well as yesterday's and as far back as 30 years ago. That's a lot of data! There's some very strict guidelines required for testing, so I have to make sure all of the data is properly formatted so I can report to my superiors. The paperwork is the easy part, it's the rigorous testing in the laboratories here that's hard work! All of this work is important in keeping communities safe, hospitals and food prep places sanitary, and keeping tabs on infectious diseases and outbreaks. All part of a day's work!
Monday, September 2, 2013
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, The Shampoo Bacteria
Got a neat little bugger for you today! Meet Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a very common bacteria that can survive without oxygen and can even grow in shampoo:
That funky-looking "m"-shaped letter for the units there is the Greek letter Mu, and the units give are micrometers, if you were curious.
This Gram-negative, opportunistic bacterium is very common, found on human skin and everywhere humans thrive. Chances are, you probably have a few trillion of these little guys on you right now. If that's the case, how come we don't get sick with them more often? Well, it's because P. aeruginosa isn't that strong against your body's immune system - it's generally killed off before it even gets a chance to grow. But if you're already immunocompromised, say, a burn victim in the hospital or an AIDS sufferer, you can end up with pneumonia, an infection of the urinary tract, skin infections or (in newborns and Cancer patients) necrotizing enterocolitis, a disease that causes death of the intestinal tract. It also can cause eye infections, skin rashes, and ear infections, and is the most common cause of them, in fact. Like many bacteria, some strains of P. aeruginosa are becoming resistant to common antibiotics, which makes them a primary concern in the health care industry.
The best way to avoid being infected or infecting others, of course, is to wash your hands, particularly if you work in health care or are visiting the hospital. But outside of the hospital, it is also important to avoid under-chlorinated swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas. It's also advised to keep contact lenses and the solution they sit in clean and sanitary, changing every night if possible. Be careful to clean your contact lenses (if you wear them) to prevent cross-contaminating the solution they rest in.
That funky-looking "m"-shaped letter for the units there is the Greek letter Mu, and the units give are micrometers, if you were curious.
This Gram-negative, opportunistic bacterium is very common, found on human skin and everywhere humans thrive. Chances are, you probably have a few trillion of these little guys on you right now. If that's the case, how come we don't get sick with them more often? Well, it's because P. aeruginosa isn't that strong against your body's immune system - it's generally killed off before it even gets a chance to grow. But if you're already immunocompromised, say, a burn victim in the hospital or an AIDS sufferer, you can end up with pneumonia, an infection of the urinary tract, skin infections or (in newborns and Cancer patients) necrotizing enterocolitis, a disease that causes death of the intestinal tract. It also can cause eye infections, skin rashes, and ear infections, and is the most common cause of them, in fact. Like many bacteria, some strains of P. aeruginosa are becoming resistant to common antibiotics, which makes them a primary concern in the health care industry.
The best way to avoid being infected or infecting others, of course, is to wash your hands, particularly if you work in health care or are visiting the hospital. But outside of the hospital, it is also important to avoid under-chlorinated swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas. It's also advised to keep contact lenses and the solution they sit in clean and sanitary, changing every night if possible. Be careful to clean your contact lenses (if you wear them) to prevent cross-contaminating the solution they rest in.
Friday, August 23, 2013
What is MRSA?
I've gotten a lot of requests for this blog post, mostly from concerned parents. Hopefully, this answers those questions!
Before I can answer the question about MRSA, I'll have to explain about the bacterium itself - Staphylococcus aureus (now that's a mouthful!). S. aureus, also known as "Staph" for short, is a fairly common bacterium - in fact, it's present on your skin right now! This little guy is just one particular variety of Staphylococci, however it is the one (of about 30 different kinds) that most commonly infects humans. S. aureus is a round, pill-shaped bacterium that grows in clusters, and looks a little something like this:
Now, normally Staph just kind of hangs out on your skin's surface, not doing too much and being no real threat to you or anyone else. But if the skin is broken, that's when the problem starts. S. aureus infection can cause skin infections, the rare toxic shock syndrome (in women), and food poisoning if ingested. If left untreated, a staph infection can progress to cellulitis, necrotizing faciitis (a disease that essentially causes the skin to loosen from its cementing membrane and slough off), gangrene, or sepsis (blood poisoning). Symptoms of S. aureus food poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. Common symptoms of a staph skin infection include boils or abcesses filled with pus, warm or swollen areas of skin, pus coming from an open wound, pain, or a wound that appears to not be healing properly. If at any time you suspect a staph infection, seek medical attention. If you suspect gangrene, necrotizing fasciitis, or sepsis, seek immediate emergency treatment, as these types of infections can result in limb loss, organ failure, and death.
MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a strain of Staph bacterium that has become resistant to Methicillin and other antibiotics in the same class, such as penicillin and amoxicillin. It commonly is found in hospitals and infects the very sick, the elderly, and those with open wounds. Because MRSA is so antibiotic-resistant, it can be difficult to treat. You can get it by contact with infected wounds, improper hygiene, and sharing infected items with others, although recent antibiotic use is also a risk factor. MRSA, aside from being much more antibiotic-resistant and tougher to treat, is the same as regular Staph and an infection with either can be avoided by following the suggestions below:
Before I can answer the question about MRSA, I'll have to explain about the bacterium itself - Staphylococcus aureus (now that's a mouthful!). S. aureus, also known as "Staph" for short, is a fairly common bacterium - in fact, it's present on your skin right now! This little guy is just one particular variety of Staphylococci, however it is the one (of about 30 different kinds) that most commonly infects humans. S. aureus is a round, pill-shaped bacterium that grows in clusters, and looks a little something like this:
Now, normally Staph just kind of hangs out on your skin's surface, not doing too much and being no real threat to you or anyone else. But if the skin is broken, that's when the problem starts. S. aureus infection can cause skin infections, the rare toxic shock syndrome (in women), and food poisoning if ingested. If left untreated, a staph infection can progress to cellulitis, necrotizing faciitis (a disease that essentially causes the skin to loosen from its cementing membrane and slough off), gangrene, or sepsis (blood poisoning). Symptoms of S. aureus food poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. Common symptoms of a staph skin infection include boils or abcesses filled with pus, warm or swollen areas of skin, pus coming from an open wound, pain, or a wound that appears to not be healing properly. If at any time you suspect a staph infection, seek medical attention. If you suspect gangrene, necrotizing fasciitis, or sepsis, seek immediate emergency treatment, as these types of infections can result in limb loss, organ failure, and death.
MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a strain of Staph bacterium that has become resistant to Methicillin and other antibiotics in the same class, such as penicillin and amoxicillin. It commonly is found in hospitals and infects the very sick, the elderly, and those with open wounds. Because MRSA is so antibiotic-resistant, it can be difficult to treat. You can get it by contact with infected wounds, improper hygiene, and sharing infected items with others, although recent antibiotic use is also a risk factor. MRSA, aside from being much more antibiotic-resistant and tougher to treat, is the same as regular Staph and an infection with either can be avoided by following the suggestions below:
- Always cover a wound with a bandage and treat with a topical antibiotic such as Neosporin, especially if the wound is oozing pus or draining. This keeps out bacteria, and keeps any bacteria that may be in the wound from infecting others.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 15 seconds. Do this after using the restroom, before preparing food, after handling infectious materials, or after handling raw meat or animals that may have bacteria on them (reptiles, birds, and animals infected with any microbe). This is a good practice to prevent many diseases, not just Staph.
- Do not share personal items, like towels, tooth brushes, or hair brushes, with others. Your staph may infect them, or theirs may infect you, especially if you have an open wound.
- Keep all food preparation surfaces clean! Do not prepare food if you have an infection of the skin, eyes, or nose.
- Ladies should change tampons frequently during menstruation to minimize the risk of toxic shock syndrome. This disease is rare, but life-threatening and is closely linked to tampon use, especially when tampons are not changed frequently enough.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Hello, World!
And here we are, all moved over to the new blog! Unfortunately, it will be quite some time before I can get all of the posts from MicroCritters (my old blog) onto the new blog, so stay tuned for some archive posts in the future. In the meantime, my followers can continue to post on MicroCritters, but nothing new will show up there.
For any newcomers, welcome! You've reached the blog of Dr. Richard Graham, the Germ Guy. I'm an epidemiologist, a scientist that studies diseases and epidemics. I work with the CDC on research into new strains of bacteria that could pose a health concern. When epidemics happen, my lab and I work to find a way of quickly controlling the outbreak and determining how to treat those already infected. When we're not doing that, we're checking our colonies of every bacteria and virus under the sun (and we have some rather interesting samples in our labs, definitely don't try what we do at home). I specialize in bacterial outbreaks, particularly those such as Staph and E. coli which get hundreds sick every year from lack of proper understanding and respect for the little critters.
The human body alone has trillions of different species of bacteria living on and in it, let alone the entire earth. Some of those bacteria, like the cultures used in sour cream and yogurt, are helpful bacteria. I believe education is the first step towards helping others stay safe during outbreaks and spreading understanding of our microscopic neighbors. Part of the way I do this is by offering to give university lectures and speeches at microbiology and epidemiology symposiums. Another way I do it (and a far more accessible way, I think) is by posting information about bacteria, viruses, parasites, current outbreaks, and stories from the lab here. The more we understand the smallest of life forms around us, the better we can prevent disease and stay safe. Plus, I think it's fun to share stories about what it's like to work for the CDC. It is my hope that any aspiring or current epidemiologists will find the stories humorous, inspiring, or perhaps even fuel for their own desire to work in my field...
For any newcomers, welcome! You've reached the blog of Dr. Richard Graham, the Germ Guy. I'm an epidemiologist, a scientist that studies diseases and epidemics. I work with the CDC on research into new strains of bacteria that could pose a health concern. When epidemics happen, my lab and I work to find a way of quickly controlling the outbreak and determining how to treat those already infected. When we're not doing that, we're checking our colonies of every bacteria and virus under the sun (and we have some rather interesting samples in our labs, definitely don't try what we do at home). I specialize in bacterial outbreaks, particularly those such as Staph and E. coli which get hundreds sick every year from lack of proper understanding and respect for the little critters.
The human body alone has trillions of different species of bacteria living on and in it, let alone the entire earth. Some of those bacteria, like the cultures used in sour cream and yogurt, are helpful bacteria. I believe education is the first step towards helping others stay safe during outbreaks and spreading understanding of our microscopic neighbors. Part of the way I do this is by offering to give university lectures and speeches at microbiology and epidemiology symposiums. Another way I do it (and a far more accessible way, I think) is by posting information about bacteria, viruses, parasites, current outbreaks, and stories from the lab here. The more we understand the smallest of life forms around us, the better we can prevent disease and stay safe. Plus, I think it's fun to share stories about what it's like to work for the CDC. It is my hope that any aspiring or current epidemiologists will find the stories humorous, inspiring, or perhaps even fuel for their own desire to work in my field...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)