What Type of Bacteria have Bacterial Endotoxin?

Byipharmacist April 19, 2024September 7, 2024

Bacterial endotoxin is a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) that is part of the membrane of gram-negative organisms.

LPS activates immunity (by stimulating the production of cytokines and the expression of costimulatory molecules), which is a good thing. However, LPS also plays an important role in a bunch of bad things: septic shock, DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation), and ARDS (adult respiratory distress syndrome) – again through stimulating cytokine release.

Which, by the way, is another example of The Cytokine Secret (if an attending asks you what causes a certain disease, mumble something about IL-4 and she’ll leave you alone).

Conclusion: Gram-negative bacteria have bacterial endotoxin.

Microbiology

What are ‘Log Reductions’ and Why are they Important?

Byipharmacist October 21, 2024October 21, 2024

In terms of infection control, ‘Log Reductions’ convey how effective a product is at reducing pathogens. The greater the log reduction the more effective the product is at killing bacteria and other pathogens that can cause infections. ‘Log’ is short for logarithm, a mathematical term for a power to which a number can be raised….

Microbiology

Bacterial Endotoxin Test

Byipharmacist August 27, 2024September 7, 2024

Nature of Pyrogens Pyrogen (fever-inducing agent), principally known as bacterial endotoxin, is one of the most potent bacterial toxins. Its only source is Gram (-) bacteria (GNB), where endotoxin comprises about 75% of the GNB cell wall. Bacterial contamination (bioburden) in water and on surfaces normally contains GNB, so endotoxin is ubiquitous in…

Microbiology

Bioburden and It’s Applications and Methods

Byipharmacist October 18, 2024October 18, 2024

Bioburden is the term used to describe microbial contamination of a product prior to sterilization. Microorganisms can be introduced at any point during the manufacturing process through raw materials, the environment, humans, or during the final stage of cleaning and packaging. Since the sources of contamination can vary widely, a product’s bioburden can fluctuate from…

Microbiology

Temperatures Used to Make Incubation in the Microbiology Lab

Byipharmacist October 9, 2024October 9, 2024

In the pharmaceutical industry, temperature-controlled incubation plays a crucial role in microbiology labs to ensure the growth and testing of microorganisms for quality control, product safety, and regulatory compliance. Different incubation temperatures are selected based on the type of microorganism being studied and the purpose of the test. Incubation Temperatures in the Pharmaceutical Industry Bioburden…

Microbiology

Setting of Alert and Action Limits for Microbial Monitoring

Byipharmacist November 17, 2024November 17, 2024

Alert and Action Limits are critical components of a microbial monitoring program, ensuring timely interventions to maintain control and prevent contamination. Here’s a step-by-step guide to calculate these limits: Alert Limit (AL): AL = μ ± (2-3σ) Action Limit (AcL): AcL = 0.8-0.9 × Maximum Acceptable Limit Example Calculation: Historical data (CFU/mL): | 10, 20,…

Microbiology

Decontamination of Microbial Media Plates

Byipharmacist February 21, 2024September 8, 2024

Decontamination of media plates in microbiology is crucial to prevent contamination from unwanted microorganisms that could interfere with the intended experiments or analyses. Decontamination is a process that removes or destroys contamination from objects so they are safe to handle, use, or discard. In microbiology, decontamination is necessary to prevent contamination of cultured organisms. …