In 1884, after the Danish doctor Hans Christian gram (1853-1938) conducted hundreds of bacterial staining studies, he accidentally found a staining method in a wrong bacterial staining. After this method, the bacteria can be divided into two categories - Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria. Since then, the Gram staining method, which is of great significance to identify bacteria, has been established. It can be seen that the Gram staining method has a history of more than 130 years.
The important clinical significance of Gram staining lies in:
1. Identify bacteria
This staining method can divide bacteria into GP bacteria and GN bacteria, which can preliminarily identify bacteria, narrow the scope and facilitate further identification
2. Choose antibiotics
GP bacteria and GN bacteria have great differences in cell wall structure, so their sensitivity to antibiotics is different.
3. Related to pathogenicity
Gram positive bacteria can produce exotoxin, while gram negative bacteria can produce endotoxin; Endotoxin mainly refers to lipopolysaccharide in the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria, and their pathogenic effects are different. Through Gram staining, we can understand the pathogenic substances of bacteria and make corresponding treatment policies.
