Science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Science - Essay Example The results also show that there is a mix community of methicillin resistant staphylococci on the keyboards since methicillin resistant S. Epidermidis and S. haemolyticus were isolated from the computer keyboards. The investigators then concluded that even though there is low prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, their presence, coupled with high volume of traffic on these student computer terminals is a demonstration of higher risk. The public access computers have potential to act as reservoirs for Staphylococcus aureus. The hypothesis in this study was that; the prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus on computer rooms and public access computers was high and the keyboards contains strains implicated in disease outbreaks. The research question was that is there high prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus on computer keyboards of public access student computer terminals. The dependent variable in this study was prevalence rate of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) while the independent variable was the specimen collected from computer terminals used by the students in secondary and post secondary school. The dependent variable which is the prevalence of MRSA was controlled by following the standard procedure in the collection, handling, inoculation and isolation of Staphylococcus aureus. In this regard the prevalence rate was only read after the growth and isolation. It is important to note that there could be many bacterial growth from samples collected from computer terminals, however, through the use of selective media, mannitol salt agar (MSA), only Staphylococcus aureus could grow. Specimens that are the independent variables were controlled by ensuring that all specimens were collected from the computer keyboards alone and a standard procedure was used to collect, label, prepare and preserve the specimen. The