You Have a Very Sore Throat with Symptoms Indicating Strep

question 34

Multiple Choice

You have a very sore throat with symptoms indicating strep throat. Since you are taking microbiology right now, you decide that you will take a swab from your throat and swab it onto an enrichment medium like a blood agar plate or a brain-heart infusion agar plate. Why is this not a good idea?

• A) Due to the fact that you cannot easily see the sampling site, there is a high probability that you will not be able to obtain your own specimen without contaminating the sample with your own normal biota.
• B) You are on a diet now, and you are afraid that the food that you are eating will in some way impact the growth of the bacteria. As a result, you will not get valid results.
• C) You use a mouthwash a couple of times a day, so you think that the antibacterial properties of the mouthwash will inhibit or kill the oral bacteria and results in invalid results.
• D) All of these choices are correct.

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Definitions:

Nasal Cavity

A large air-filled space above and behind the nose in the middle of the face, involved in breathing and smelling.

Epithelium

Layers of cells covering the body surfaces, both internal and external, and forming glands.

Silicosis

A lung disease caused by inhaling fine particles of silica, most commonly in the mining industry, leading to inflammation and scarring in the lungs.

Sand Blaster

A tool that uses pressurized air or water to project sand or another abrasive material at a surface for cleaning or shaping.