Introduction
The human body is colonized by various bacteria. While many of these are considered natural flora, there are pathological species as well. Likewise, a member of normal flora of one area of the body may well be pathological in another. Identification of these species is conducted through various laboratory methods, testing enzymatic activity, ability to grow on various media, and resistance or sensitivity to antibiotics.
In this lab, one learns how to successfully determine the species isolated from a clinical vignette. The samples are from patients with signs or symptoms of infection. When determining the bacteria isolated, the tests for Gram positive cocci include: catalase test, mannitol salt agar, coagulase, novobiocin, blood agar, bacitracin, cAMP, optochin, and bile hydrolysis.

Materials and Methods
The simulated lab had 5 bacteria isolates which were run through the various tests as indicated to determine the specific species of bacteria. The vignettes were:
â€¢ Urinary tract infection
â€¢ Acquired labor infection
â€¢ Mosquito bite
â€¢ Fatigue
â€¢ Earache
To begin with, a catalase test allowed to differentiate between Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species. If the sample was catalase positive, e.g. bubbles in the isolate, then a mannitol salt agar would help further differentiate it. If it ferments mannitol, e.g. changes color, then a test for coagulase determines between Staph. aureus (coagulase positive) or saprophyticus (negative). If mannitol agar is negative, a novobiocin test determines between Staph epidermidis (sensitive) and saprophyticus (resistant).
If the sample was catalase negative, then incubation on blood agar and check for hemolysis would determine the next tests. Alpha (green rings), beta (bubbles), and gamma (none) hemolysis are the possible determintations.
If beta-hemolytic, a

Assignment: As you are learning about bacterial cell structure, gro...