Question

1. Patient specimens suspected of having Mycobacteriun are decontaminated by soaking the specimen in sodium hydroxide, (NaOH). The specimen is then concentrated by centrifugation. The pellet is then used in 2 ways. Part of it is cultured to the appropriate growth media. Cultures must be maintained and checked for 8 weeks to see if there is growth. The pellet is also used to make a smear for the acid fast stain which can be read as soon as the stain procedure is complete. a. Why is the decontamination step necessary? b. Why is the decontamination step not necessary for other types of stains?

Answer 1

A) It is necessary to limit the spread of contaminants from the release area, or "hot zone," to include the cleaning of responders and their equipment.

Because Mycobacterium grows so slowly and are often present on non -sterile body sites ,they are easily overgrown by other bacteria . Therefore , specimens from non sterile site should be decontaminated .

B) Other types of stains are not necessarily decontaminated because they are present in the sterile sites .