Microbiology concerns!

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I am currently enrolled in microbiology. I had my first class last night. There is a LOT I didn't know about this course before I got into it. I was of the impression that we'd be doing a lot of hard work with knowledge, etc and anticipated that for the lab section we would be doing things like looking at pre-made slides and such. I guess I'd just not really thought about it that much or looked into it that deeply.

Well, what I've now found out is that we will be working with various assorted contaminants, some rather serious, and many types of funguses and such. We were told how to dress for lab, that we need to have 2 disposable lab coats in case of spillage then there is one to throw away and we should keep the other in the car so that we can go and get it. We are to have special shoes, goggles, gloves and preferably scrubs to wear to avoid contamination spread.

Okay, so my biggest dilemma is that I have an immunocompromised cat at home. She is my baby girl and I am EXTREMELY careful with what comes into the house. If some of these "bugs" traveled home with me accidently this could be very serious.

What I would like to know is if I am just potentially overreacting to all the dress code things and such and/or if there is really that much to be concerned with. In other words, has anyone heard of anyone who actually did bring any "bugs" or funguses home with them? Or is this just a hugely preventative measure on the school's part to avoid lawsuits and such should anything ever actually happen?

It is still early enough that if it looks like a bad thing to do I can drop this class and get my money back. I will still need to get the credit for this class somehow and don't relish having to take this as an online or self study clep course but staying in this class is NOT worth ANY degree of risk to my baby girl.

Please share your thoughts on this with me. Thank you.

Sue

Specializes in NICU.

When I took Micro in college, we also worked with all kinds of bacteria and fungi, but as it was mentioned above, many of this stuff is in our normal environment anyways. We made most of our own slides - swabbed water fountains, pricked our own fingers for blood, etc. But for things like antibiotic studies, we used pre-collected bacteria and such. It was a great learning experience and without it, lab reports from microbiology in my patients' charts wouldn't make nearly as much sense as they do.

One of my nursing school friends was a transplant patient who had been taking immunosuppresant drugs for 15 years by that point. She never once got sick or contracted something topically. Just be careful and wear gloves, etc. You're going to come into contact with much worse germs once you actually go into the hospital!

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No, actually I don't think so. If she's concerned about her cat WRT Microbiology, then there is going to be at least as much of a concern when she's actually working in a hospital setting.

You may see it as unempathetic; I like to call it "pragmatic." :)

I can definitely see your points there *if* I had any plans of doing hospital setting - which I don't.

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Specializes in NICU.
I can definitely see your points there *if* I had any plans of doing hospital setting - which I don't.

You'll still have to spend time in the hospital during your nursing education. But seriously, I wouldn't worry too much. I've been working in hospitals for eight years and have a cat with FIV - and he's a big, fat, healthy 25 pound tom despite his poor immune system and my hospital cooties, LOL!

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I remember having concerns about this as well, but after talking with the lab instructor about it many time lol, he assured me that it was weakened bacteria. So I wouldn't worry about it too much.

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For my "realistic" point of few as I see it. I took Micro this summer and yes we worked with live cultures. It was actually kind of cool making slides and seeing some great reactions take place. If you are careful, there should not be any problems at all. You will not be the first person with this concern as many with kids, pets, personal health issues etc., have passed before you.

If however, you are going to put your college career on hold or in some state of confusion over a pet than I question your sincere interest in being a student. Almost nothing (read; little things) should come between you and your long term goals and personal successes. (obviously I am not suggesting to run through life with reckless abandon) After you jumble your schedule, drop a course, change schools etc., some other less desirable fate my strike your cat anyhow.

I am not a pet basher...We have a dog, a 9 year old chocolate lab, a cat 6 years old born in our house (we had the mother until she met the front tire of a car) and assorted other creature through the years. But I think a reality check may be in order if you would consider altering your future for a pet.

Not trying to be harsh, just giving you something else to think about.

By the way, you should be more concerned about having to memorize Glycolysis, TCA and the Electron Transport Sytem which in my opinion are more dangerous than the germs...:chuckle

Whatever you decide, good luck and have a great semester, dave :)

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Specializes in School, Camp, Hospice, Critical Care.

I foster immunocompromised kitties for a Rescue. I've never brought home a single cootie from micro, work in a hospital, or clinicals that got anybody sick or sicker. Neither have I ever heard of a single individual at my school becoming ill, or bringing nasties home, from a lab class.

Most or what you play with in Micro IS normal flora. Seriously, follow precautions, wash your hands, leave your lab coat(s) at school and your shoes out in the garage. If there are facilities, you could shower and change at school for a little extra reassurance.

Best of luck!

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
I can definitely see your points there *if* I had any plans of doing hospital setting - which I don't.

You did realize that school clinicals are in a hospital, right? :confused:

Thanks klone & dave1117 for interjecting some rationality into this discussion.

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:uhoh3: A little exteme and unempathetic response, don't ya think ?

i am not sure it was extreme or unempathic. i think it may just be realistic. dogs carry strep-- it seems logical cats might too, and lord knows humans do, all over them. germs are everywhere. this woman's probably going to be coming into contact with mrsa-- i have heard (cdc website) lots of healthcare workers are colonized now. so maybe she should consider priorities. maybe she is meant to do something else. cdc website says most mrsa spread by hands of healthcare workers so it is not like they dont get germs on them. it is also important to think about what it could be like for her co-workers if she gets into nursing and then shies away from going into rooms of people with known bacterial conditions-- i work with people who sometimes refuse (!) to go into mrsa rooms, and it really irritates me: i am like, do you plan on staying in healthcare long? still, i am obviously no microbiologist so maybe her instructor or more likely a good veterinarian can answer her questions. i have heard most animals do not have the same flora that humans normally do so it seems the question would be, can any of the "harmless" (to humans) bacteria she will come in contact with be harmful to her pet?

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Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

Watch your technique in the lab and gently take your clothes off as soon as you walk in the door and bag them up for the washer. Head straight for the shower. When you start doing clinical, you will be exposed to a lot of stuff. However, the natural immunity aspect (cats can't catch human diseases) hopefully will be effective enough to handle it. Check with your vet.

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i am not sure it was extreme or unempathic. i think it may just be realistic. dogs carry strep-- it seems logical cats might too, and lord knows humans do, all over them. germs are everywhere. this woman's probably going to be coming into contact with mrsa-- i have heard (cdc website) lots of healthcare workers are colonized now. so maybe she should consider priorities. maybe she is meant to do something else. cdc website says most mrsa spread by hands of healthcare workers so it is not like they dont get germs on them. it is also important to think about what it could be like for her co-workers if she gets into nursing and then shies away from going into rooms of people with known bacterial conditions-- i work with people who sometimes refuse (!) to go into mrsa rooms, and it really irritates me: i am like, do you plan on staying in healthcare long? still, i am obviously no microbiologist so maybe her instructor or more likely a good veterinarian can answer her questions. i have heard most animals do not have the same flora that humans normally do so it seems the question would be, can any of the "harmless" (to humans) bacteria she will come in contact with be harmful to her pet?

I understand what you are saying.

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hey, is it standard protocol that microbio classes make u buy lab coats? if so, i should start looking for the cheapest one i can find now.

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Hi! I think its great that you are so concerned about your pet/friend. If she was a human child I don't think people would be posting this "get over it" bulls**t. I had micro 2 semesters ago and my two cats were OK (I washed my hands/arms in the bathroom at school and left my shoes in the mudroom closet-just next to the front door.) The only time I think I brought something home was when I started a new job in an ED during flu season (yikes!). Both kitties came down with a 24hr bug that resolved itself b/f I could get them to a vet. GOOD LUCK!!!!! With your obvious empathy towards your cat, you will make a GREAT people nurse!

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