Case Studies in Microbiology A Personal Approach

This first edition text developed and evolved to meet three pedagogical goals we deemed essential for those studying allied health and are pre-professional. The use of microbiology case studies were modified to maintain their value as tools that result in critical thinking and knowledge retention while providing a more realistic context for preparing future health care professionals. Consequently, the text has real life, personally-oriented microbiology cases appropriate for those in nursing, pharmacy, and other allied health disciplines (pre-med, pre-PA, CLS, etc.). This format presents material as a story about the patient as well as information regarding their family circumstances, personal characteristics, and individual motivations.

Preface ix

I. Community-Acquired Infections 1

A. Infections of the Skin, Eyes, and Underlying Tissues 2

1. A Homeless Hazard 3

2. "The Funk" 6

3. Hats Off to MRSA 8

4. Trouble Is Afoot 12

5. Down on the Farm 14

6. My, What Pretty Eyes You Have! 20

7. He Did It His Way 22

8. The "Tat" Is Where It’s At! 24

9. A Persistent Pimple 26

B. Nervous System Infections 29

1. Life in the Meningitis Belt 30

2. The Flying Mouse 31

3. Vacation Headaches 34

C. Infections of the Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems 36

1. A Common Opportunistic Pathogen 37

2. Unhappy Returns 39

3. Bunny Bits! 40

4. The Black Measles 44

5. Pucker Up! 47

6. Toxoplasmosis …Don’t Blame Fluffy! 50

D. Infections of the Respiratory System 53

1. Strawberry Red 54

2. An Evolving Situation 56

3. Q Fever …An Occupational Hazard 58

4. Swimming Pool Blues 61

E. Digestive System Infections 62

1. Hand Washing ABCs 63

2. A Distressing Side Effect 65

3. Hold the Onions 67

4. Diarrhea 101 69

5. An Uninvited Party Guest 70

F. Infections of the Urogenital Tract 72

1. The Honeymoon Is Over 73

2. Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll 77

3. A Bad First Impression 78

4. The Domino Effect 80

5. An Ongoing Problem 83

6. An Infectious New Lifestyle 87

II. Nosocomial Infections 89

1. A Nose for Trouble 91

2. A "Hep C" History Lesson 93

3. The "Superbug" 99

III. Family Health Care 103

A. Pediatric Infections 104

1. A New Twist on a Childhood Disease 105

2. Why Did the Chicken Pox Cross the Road? 106

3. Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease 108

4. Seeing Red! 110

5. ‘Tis the Season 115

6. Splash! 117

B. Childbearing-Related Infections 119

1. Special Delivery 120

2. Cookout Concerns 122

C. Geriatric Infections 126

1. The Second Time Around 127

2. An Unexpected Outbreak 129

IV. Food Safety 131

1. No, Thanks, I Think I’ll Have the Turkey 132

2. Danger in the NICU 134

V. Regionally Acquired Infections 137

1. An Infectious Vacation 138

2. Rain, Rain, Go Away 141 ??

Microbiology

Rodney P. Anderson received his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Iowa in 1989. His doctoral work centered on protein synthesis mechanisms in E. coli. After graduate school, he began his academic career at Ohio Northern University where he continues to teach and conduct research with undergraduates in the Department of Biological and Allied Health Sciences.
Dr. Anderson has been actively involved in microbiology education. He has been a past chair of ASM's Conference on Undergraduate Education which developed the core curriculum for undergraduate microbiology courses and has organized and spoke at a number of education division symposia at ASM’s General Meeting. He is an author of two books published by ASM press: Outbreak and The Invisible ABCs.

Since earning her Ph.D. in botany at The Ohio State University in 1988, Linda M. Young has been teaching freshman and advanced-level biology courses at Ohio Northern University, a student-centered institution which emphasizes effective instruction as a faculty member’s principle responsibility. Throughout her tenure, Dr. Young has regularly directed student-based research projects and periodically collaborated with investigators at OSU. She served seven years as the Assistant Dean of the Getty College of Arts and Sciences which allowed the opportunity to implement several programs to assist students in academic difficulty, ease freshman transition into college, and support the endeavors of high-achieving students.