Through microscopic examination, the size, shape and arrangement of bacteria can be visualized and the type of bacteria can be clarified.
Bacteria are small in size, mostly colorless and translucent, and their morphology, size and arrangement can be observed with the help of microscope after staining. Direct smear staining microscopy is simple and fast, and is still applicable to those bacterial infections with special morphology, such as early preliminary diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and gonococcal infections.
The speed of microscopy is faster, and it can be used for visual inspection of pathogens with special morphology, without special instruments and equipment, which is convenient and quick.
Commonly used microscopic staining methods include Gram stain and antacid stain; Gram stain is mainly used to distinguish Gram-positive bacteria (purple) and Gram-negative bacteria (red or pink) by taking advantage of the different characteristics of the cell wall structure of different bacteria; antacid stain is mainly a special staining method for acid-fighting bacilli such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprosum, which are red in color.
Specialist guidance should be sought as to whether microscopic examination is required.