Question

What are two ways you can figure out the serotype of a bacteria? Why would you not provide antibiotics for a salmonella infection? Under what circumstances would you give antibiotics?

Answer 1

The Serotypes are groups within a single species of microorganisms having distinctive surface structures in bacteria or virus and the subtyping test to find the serotypes is called serotyping.

The two ways to figure out the serotypes of bacteria is based on

1. O antigen type : The bacterial surface has glycoproteins of which oligopolysaccharides is one. The outer surface of oligo polysaccharides has O antigen and based on it serotyping is done

2. H antigen type: The whip like locomotory organ in bacteria is flagella which has H antigen and based on it serotyping is done

why are antibiotics not used for salmonella:

Salmonellosis is a food borne disease which colonizes in the small and large intestine and causes symptoms of diarrhoea, fever, stomach cramps. It increases with the duration and spread to blood and liver in complicated cases.

Salmonellosis is self-limiting disease which can cured spontaneously with or without much treatment. It usually does not require or respond to specific treatment. Persons with severe diarrhea might require rehydration, sometimes with intravenous fluids.

when are antibiotics used:

Antibiotics are not recommended for uncomplicated cases and are only used if the infection spreads or is highly likely to spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and other organs.