What is Otitis Media Otitis media is an infection of the middle ear – you know the space behind the eardrum. It’s common, especially in children, and can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or, in rarer cases, fungi. Otitis media happens when the Eustachian tube (which connects the middle ear to the back of the […]
Category Archives: Microbiology
01
Nov
Nov
Every year, more than 200,000 deaths are recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa due to Schistosomiasis caused by these trematodes. Different species of this trematode exist, and they include Schistosoma japonicum, Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni. But today, our focus will be on Schistosoma haematobium. S.haematobium is endemic in 54 countries and is commonly termed a blood […]
27
Oct
Oct
Kidney stones, known scientifically as nephrolithiasis or renal calculi, are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside the kidneys. These stones can cause a range of symptoms, one of the most notable being hematuria or blood in the urine. While the presence of blood in the urine can be alarming, it is […]
27
Oct
Oct
The presence of blood in urine, even at microscopic levels, could be a red flag for serious urological conditions in men. Urology(Urological) refers to kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. These are parts of the urinary system your doctor will begin to think about once you have blood in your urine as a man. Blood […]
23
Oct
Oct
Understanding Candida Infections in Men, Women, and Children Candida is not a name that might come up in a casual conversation, but its impact on our health is on a large scale. It is found in the human body as a normal flora, existing in balance with other microorganisms. However, under the right conditions, Candida […]
21
Oct
Oct
Blood cultures are a standard diagnostic tool, especially when infection is suspected. The suspicion of infection that would lead to a blood culture test is mostly fever. However, not every fever warrants a blood culture. As important as blood cultures are in diagnosing infections like sepsis or bacteremia, knowing when to use them is an […]
Blog, Microbiology
The role of Schistosoma haematobium Ova in the Diagnosis of Urinary Schistosomiasis
19
Oct
Oct
What is Schistosoma haematobium? Schistosoma haematobium is a parasitic flatworm that causes a disease called urinary schistosomiasis, or bilharzia. This infection is common in parts of Africa and the Middle East, especially in areas with freshwater bodies like lakes, rivers, and ponds. The parasite is found more in these environments, making people who rely on […]
01
Oct
Oct
Introduction Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest challenges facing modern healthcare. As more bacteria develop resistance to commonly used antibiotics, treatment options dwindle, leading to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs, and increased mortality. Two major factors contributing to this problem are genetic mutations and biofilm formation. But what do these terms really mean […]
01
Oct
Oct
Introduction Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria evolve to withstand drugs that once effectively eliminated or inhibited them. During infection testing—specifically cultures—when microbial growth is detected, the next step is identifying and classifying the organism. Techniques like Gram staining, biochemical tests, and colony morphology, are employed in this identification process. But why is this step so […]
Blog, Microbiology, Students Corner
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Blood Culture using Brain Heart Infusion (BHI)Broth
22
Sep
Sep
Introduction This SOP “Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Blood Culture using Brain Heart Infusion (BHI)Broth” outlines blood culture preparation, inoculation, incubation, and interpretation. Different microbiological media are used in the laboratory to cultivate and grow various microorganisms. These broth media are made from a combination of brain and heart tissue infusions from animals, typically cows […]
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