How are Agar Plates Used in Disease Outbreak Investigations?
During a disease outbreak, agar plates are used to isolate and identify the pathogens responsible. Samples from patients, food, water, or environmental sources are inoculated onto agar plates. After incubation, colonies of microorganisms grow, which can be further analyzed through biochemical tests, microscopy, and molecular techniques. This data helps to pinpoint the source and mode of transmission of the outbreak, informing public health interventions.