1. Define selective and differential media and give an example of each using the mannitol salt medium.
2. What is the role of coagulase in the pathogenesis of S. aureus?
3. What is the role of phenol red in the mannitol salt medium?
4. Why is isolation of an individual bacterial colony an important step to take prior to running metabolic or serological tests?
5. You are given the task of determining whether a Staphylococcus species is present in a wound of a patient in the emergency room. You take a swab of the potentially infected area and you have the following media available to begin your task: VJ agar, TSA agar, mStaph broth, DOC agar. Which medium would be the best to use to start your task and why?
6. Why are Staphylococcus infections becoming a major concern to healthcare practioners?