Gram Stain

1. The Gram stain is the most useful stain used in microbiology.
2. The Gram stain was invented by Christian Gram in 1884.
3. It classifies bacteria into 2 groups: gram-positive or gram-negative based on the composition of the cell wall.
4. Gram-positive bacteria have thick peptidoglycan cell walls.
5. Gram-negative bacteria have thin peptidoglycan cell walls and a layer of lipids in the outer membrane.
6. The Gram stain provides the physician with valuable information.
7. The Gram stain helps to show the presence of bacteria and the type.
8. Knowing whether bacteria is Gram-positive or Gram-negative can help the physician know the type of infection you have, and which antibiotics will be most effective in treating it.