ATI RN
Microbiology An Introduction 12th Edition Test Bank Questions
Question 1 of 9
A 32-year-old patient undergoing dental examination was found to have some rash-like lesions resembling secondary syphilis in the oral cavity. The patient was referred for the serological study with the purpose of diagnosis confirmation. In order to detect antibodies in the serum, living Treponema were used as diagnosticum. What serological test was performed?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Passive hemagglutination. In this test, red blood cells coated with Treponema antigens agglutinate in the presence of patient's serum antibodies. This indicates the presence of antibodies against Treponema, confirming the diagnosis. A: Immobilization test uses live Treponema to detect specific antibodies, but it is not commonly used for syphilis diagnosis. C: Precipitation test is not commonly used for syphilis diagnosis. D: Complement binding test is not specific for syphilis and is used more for autoimmune diseases. Therefore, passive hemagglutination is the most appropriate serological test in this case due to its specificity and relevance to the presentation of the patient.
Question 2 of 9
The causative agent of typhoid fever is:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Salmonella typhi. Typhoid fever is caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi, specifically transmitted through contaminated food and water. Shigella dysenteriae causes bacillary dysentery, Vibrio cholerae causes cholera, and Escherichia coli can cause various gastrointestinal illnesses, but not typhoid fever. Identifying the causative agent is crucial for effective treatment and prevention strategies.
Question 3 of 9
A patient with suspicion on epidemic typhus was admitted to the hospital. Some arachnids and insects have been found in his flat. Which of them may be a carrier of the pathogen of epidemic typhus?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Lice. Lice, specifically body lice (Pediculus humanus corporis), are known carriers of the pathogen Rickettsia prowazekii, which causes epidemic typhus. Body lice are commonly found in unsanitary conditions and can transmit the bacteria through their bites. Spiders (choice B), bed-bugs (choice C), and cockroaches (choice D) are not known vectors of epidemic typhus. Spiders are predators that do not transmit diseases to humans, while bed-bugs and cockroaches are associated with other health issues but not epidemic typhus transmission.
Question 4 of 9
A bacteriological laboratory has received smears from the sputum of a patient with a chronic pulmonary disease. Microscopical examination of the smears stained by the Ziehl-Neelsen technique revealed red bacilli. What property of the tuberculosis bacillus has shown itself?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Acid resistance. The Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique is specifically used to detect acid-fast bacteria like Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is resistant to acid decolorization. This property allows the tuberculosis bacillus to retain the stain even after exposure to acid-alcohol, appearing red under the microscope. Explanation of incorrect choices: B: Alkali resistance - This property is not relevant in the context of Ziehl-Neelsen staining for acid-fast bacteria. C: Alcohol resistance - While alcohol resistance is related to acid-fastness, it is not the specific property highlighted by Ziehl-Neelsen staining. D: Capsule formation - Capsule formation is a different characteristic and not directly related to the staining behavior of acid-fast bacteria in the Ziehl-Neelsen technique.
Question 5 of 9
Botulism agent causes severe food toxicoinfection. Point out the most characteristic morphologic feature of botulism agent.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Thick gram-positive non-sporeforming bacilli. In botulism, the causative agent, Clostridium botulinum, is a thick gram-positive bacilli that does not form spores. This is a key characteristic morphologic feature. A: Gram-positive spore-forming bacilli with subterminal spore - This is incorrect as Clostridium botulinum does not have subterminal spores. C: Gram-positive spore-forming bacilli with terminal spore - Incorrect because Clostridium botulinum does not form spores. D: Thin mobile spore-forming bacilli with central spore - Incorrect because Clostridium botulinum is not thin, mobile, or spore-forming. In summary, the most characteristic morphologic feature of the botulism agent is being thick, gram-positive, and non-sporeforming, making choice B the correct answer.
Question 6 of 9
Which statements is NOT CORRECT: Treponema pallidum can be cultivated on:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Artificial food media. Treponema pallidum is a fastidious bacterium that cannot be cultivated on artificial food media due to its complex nutritional requirements. It can be cultivated on cell lines and intratesticular in rabbits. Therefore, option A is incorrect. Option B and C are correct.
Question 7 of 9
Enzymes that remove functional groups from a substrate without adding water, or that add functional groups to a double bond, are called
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: lyases. Lyases are enzymes that catalyze the breaking of chemical bonds without the addition of water. They can remove functional groups from substrates or add functional groups to double bonds without the use of water. A: Oxidoreductases involve the transfer of electrons. B: Transferases transfer functional groups from one molecule to another. C: Hydrolases catalyze the breaking of bonds by adding water.
Question 8 of 9
An example of selective media is:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: McConkey agar. Selective media selectively inhibit the growth of certain organisms while allowing others to grow. McConkey agar contains crystal violet and bile salts that inhibit the growth of Gram-positive bacteria, making it selective for Gram-negative bacteria. Choices B and C are not selective media, as they do not specifically inhibit the growth of certain types of bacteria. Choice D is incorrect as McConkey agar is indeed an example of selective media.
Question 9 of 9
At a bacteriological laboratory animal skins are analyzed by means of Ascoli precipitaion test. What is detected if the reaction is positive?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The Ascoli precipitation test is specifically used to detect anthrax agent antigens. The test involves mixing a patient's serum with a solution containing anthrax antigens, leading to precipitation if the antigens are present. Therefore, a positive reaction in this test indicates the presence of anthrax agent antigens. The other choices (B: Brucellosis agent, C: Anaerobic infection toxin, D: Plague agent) are incorrect because the Ascoli precipitation test is not designed to detect these specific agents or toxins.