Students Corner: Organisms that are subjected to acid-fast staining

Question: 

List five organisms that are subjected to acid-fast staining

Answer:

Here are five organisms that are commonly subjected to acid-fast staining:

1. Mycobacterium tuberculosis – This bacterium is responsible for causing tuberculosis in humans and is the most commonly tested organism using acid-fast staining.
2. Mycobacterium leprae – This bacterium causes leprosy, a chronic infectious disease that affects the skin and peripheral nerves.
3. Nocardia species – These bacteria are commonly found in soil and water, and can cause infections in humans, especially in immunocompromised individuals.
4. Cryptosporidium species – These are protozoan parasites that can cause gastrointestinal illnesses, especially in individuals with weakened immune systems.
5. Isospora belli – This is another protozoan parasite that can cause gastrointestinal illnesses, especially in individuals with weakened immune systems.

Acid-fast staining is a useful diagnostic tool for identifying these organisms in clinical specimens such as sputum, stool, and tissue samples.