Sputum: Moraxella catarrhalis – Shipped May 2015
HISTORY
A simulated sputum sample collected from a 45 year old male patient with a history of alcoholism was sent to category A and B laboratories. The sputum sample was considered suitable for culture. Participants were expected to isolate, identify, and report Moraxella catarrhalis.
MAIN EDUCATIONAL POINTS from M151-2
- It is important to correctly stain and interpret Gram stains – errors can lead to inappropriate test selection and misidentification of pathogenic organisms, leading to a negative patient impact.
- It is also important to correlate the Gram stain, colonial morphology, and basic tests, such as oxidase, with the final identification – to not do this may result in an incorrect identification being reported, with the potential for a negative patient impact.
CMPT is a program of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C. Canada.