ANSWER SHEET

ACTIVITY 7
CULTIVATION OF BACTERIA IN THE ENVIRONMENT

Name: Sean Carlo A. Suarez Date Performed: March 2024

Group. No. 1 Date Submitted: March 21, 2024

A. Record all your results including that of your group mates in the table below:

Body Surface Air Sampling Nutrient Broth

Sampling
Student Source Result Source Result Source Result
Initials
Toilet +++ Grassbeds + Blowing ++
Bowl
Elevator + Coughing +++ Finger ++
buttons
Finster + Sneezing ++++
hand
railings
Comfort + Speaking 0
room
doorknob

Legend: Agar Plate : 0 - no growth + - 1 to 10 colonies ++ - 11 to 50 colonies +++ - 51 to

100 colonies ++++ - over colonies Nutrient Broth: 0 – broth is clear + - broth is turbid

B. Present pictures of the broth and agar cultures.

C. Guide Questions:

1. Why is it important to do environmental sampling from time to time?

Environmental sampling is important because it measures pollution levels, monitors

environmental quality, and ensures that laws are obeyed. It also provides baseline
data for environmental studies and supports evidence-based decision-making. Timely
sampling helps to detect environmental hazards early and facilitates effective
emergency response measures (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.)

2. What suggestions can you give to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases?

Immunization campaigns must be supported in order to increase population immunity

and halt infectious disease outbreaks. Strict hygiene practices, such as frequent hand
washing, adequate sanitation, and surface disinfection, can also halt the spread of
pathogens. Furthermore, promoting public health education about the spread of
illness, early detection, and prompt treatment can give people the self-assurance to
take preventative measures and seek medical assistance when necessary (World
Health Organization, n.d.)

3. Why does some normal flora from the environment become pathogenic?

Normal environmental flora can occasionally become pathogenic due to factors like
weakened immune systems, altered host physiology, or shifts in the microbial
community. For example, if an individual's immune system is compromised due to
illness or medication, opportunistic pathogens found in normal flora may proliferate
and result in infection. In addition, changes in the environment or the use of antibiotics
can lead to the overabundance or dominance of potentially harmful microorganisms,
 which can upset the natural balance of microbial communities and increase
pathogenicity (Peterson, 1996).
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (n.d.). Background F. Environmental Sampling.
https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/guidelines/environmental/background/sampling.html
World Health Organization (n.d.) Vaccines and Immunization. https://www.who.int/health-
topics/vaccines-and-immunization#tab=tab_1
Peterson, J. (1996). Bacterial Pathogenesis. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8526/