6th Grade · Science · Activity · shared by Luke Morgan
A 6th Grade Science activity where students investigate a patient's rash, exploring the skin microbiome, bacteria, and infection.
Case File: The Mystery of the Red Patch
The Situation: A patient has arrived at the clinic with a bright red, itchy rash on their forearm. The patient recently scraped their arm while gardening. Instead of healing normally, the area has become increasingly irritated. You are the lead Microbiologist on the case. Your mission is to investigate the microscopic world of the skin to determine what caused this reaction and how to resolve it.
Phase 1: The Microbiome Briefing
Review the following scientific data collected from the skin's surface. You will need these facts to analyze the evidence found at the site of the rash.
Term
Scientific Data
Microbiome
The collection of millions of microscopic organisms living on your skin that keep you healthy.
Staphylococcus epidermidis
A helpful "security guard" bacterium. It produces antimicrobial peptides (chemical weapons) that create holes in the cell membranes of bad germs.
Pathogens
Harmful germs that look for openings like cuts to enter the body and cause infection.
Inflammation
A process used to heal cuts, causing minor redness. However, if many pathogens attack a wound, they cause a severe, itchy inflammatory response known as a rash.
Phase 2: Evidence Collection & Analysis
Examine the three pieces of evidence collected from the patient's skin samples. Use the Microbiome Briefing to interpret what is happening at the microscopic level.
Clue #1: Microscope Observation of the Wound Site
The laboratory report shows that the patient's skin has a very low count of Staphylococcus epidermidis compared to a healthy person. There are also high levels of unknown, rod-shaped bacteria clustered near the scrape.
Based on the Microbiome Briefing, why is the low count of Staphylococcus epidermidis a problem for the patient?