An RN is working at a public health clinic that sees many patients with infectious disease. Ms. Hungh, a Burmese immigrant, presents to the clinic with an interpreter, complaining of fatigue, weight loss, persistent cough, and rust-colored sputum. The interpreter explains that Ms. Hungh has had this cough for many months in her home country and, now that she is in America, is seeking treatment for her condition.
-A sputum sample is ordered for microbial analysis in order to rule out the diagnosis of tuberculosis.Suspecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis may be the pathogen,the RN knows the laboratory technicians will perform which stain on the sample?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Acid-fast stain is used to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is a type of bacteria that has a unique cell wall composition that makes it resistant to traditional staining methods. The acid-fast stain uses a combination of heat, a dye, and an acid wash to stain these bacteria and make them visible under a microscope.

An RN Is Working at a Public Health Clinic That