This discussion board is from Chapter 22’s “Clinic Case” (See image below.)
You
This discussion board is from Chapter 22’s “Clinic Case” (See image below.)
You will answer the question asked at the end. You will need to find a reputable source, such as the CDC and cite this source within your original post.
To earn full credit: Students will be expected to post and original entry of 2-3 paragraphs discussing/answering the discussion board assignment. Paragraphs should be at least 4-6 sentences in length. Students will then be responsible for having a dialogue of at least 2 comments on at least 2 posts (1 back and forth with at least 1 other student on 2 separate posts, 1 of which can be their own). All posts are due before 11:59pm, ET on Sunday. It would be ideal to post your original post and your first comments before Thursday to give time for the original poster to comment back prior to the Sunday deadline. Feel free to comment more than once and have more than 2 conversations going, if you would like. Comments should be at least one paragraph responses and should be insightful and respectful to your peers. Each Discussion Board is worth 40 points. Your original post is worth 20 points and each comment is worth 10 points each
My original post——- A primary pathogen is an organism that causes diseases in the bodies of its hosts, even when the hosts may contain immune systems to protect them. The argument that Exserohilum rostratum is not a primary pathogen means that it does not cause illnesses among the hosts, who, in this case, are humans. The lack of damage on the host results from the immunity response functions. However, in this case, environments made it possible for the organism to multiply to overpower the immune response, which should adhere to its tasks in the damage-response framework.
One contributing factor to the fungi’s growth is the climate, which could have enhanced the intensity of the contamination. The general practices in the New England Compounding Center were also other issues that contributed to the further growth of the microorganism (Meechan & Potts, 2020). The steroidal injection contamination resulted from the lack of practices ensuring the sterile environments remained contamination-free, enabling Exserohilum rostratum to keep growing to prevent immunity in patients’ bodies. Adherence to required practices should not have resulted in the spores moving from the laboratory to the manufacturing section. After the growing numbers of contamination, there also existed a supply of the steroids to different states, accounting for the increased reach, which transformed into up to 20 states reporting 753 cases.
Another concern arising from this case is the lack of strict adherence to oversight requirements. Relevant bodies ensured organizations or entities like the New England Compounding Center adhered to regulations to accomplish sterile production processes and promote laboratory safety practices (Meechan & Potts, 2020). These entities had to understand that organisms like Exserohilum rostratum grow fast, and the climate can promote their growth. This information would, therefore, emphasize strict adherence to policies that prevent any small opportunity for the microorganism to grow and move to the steroid manufacturing area to cause the health problems evident in the case.
Reference
Meechan, P. J., & Potts, J. (2020). Biosafety in microbiological and biomedical laboratories. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/labs/pdf/SF__19_308133-A_BMBL6_00-BOOK-WEB-final-3.pdf
Classmate 1 Alexis for response——-Great summary! I agree that the environment played a major role in the growth of Exserohilum rostratum. The lack of sterile practices at NECC made it easy for this normally non-threatening fungus to spread, especially with the ideal warm, moist conditions. You’re spot on about the need for better regulatory oversight—had the facility followed proper protocols, this outbreak could have been avoided. Your point on the damage-response framework also highlights why the fungus was able to overwhelm the patients’ immune systems despite not being a primary pathogen.
Classmate 2 for response Kari——Well explained. You explained well how the pathogen affects the host, how the environment in which the steroid was made, and how it was affected and why. I remember when this happened working in the medical field, very concerning and scary. These things can still happen, which again is why we need more clearer and stricter lab and manufacturing practices.