Day 1 - Lab Rules and Culture Prep

First day of lab: COMPLETE! Today we received the basics: entrance procedure, drawer materials, incubating techniques, sterilizing techniques, Agar solutions, and bacteria cultures. We are now armed with all the proper knowledge to get us through... until tomorrow. 

Here we are in the microbiology drawer with all our tools to conquer the micro-world! All we need is a little bacteria....

Today Grace had her throat swabbed, no not for a drug test, but for bacteria :) With a cotton swab, a tongue depressor, and a petri dish, the year starts out quickly.

Looking at Streptococcus makes me wonder.... maybe the bacteria will just jump out at me.... give me a little impetigo, then some rheumatic fever, and accute glomerulonephritis.... just some food for thought.

*App of the Day - The entrance procedure is extremely important. Imagine one of your family members working at a research unit. That day, he forgets to wash his hands properly before leaving the lab. Now, whatever bacteria or virus he was working with, it is in your home. We have to be careful not to transfer the specimens that we are researching. We need to be aware of how these viruses spread, not just now, but in our future as nurses as well.