ATI RN
microbiology chapter 1 test bank Questions
Question 1 of 5
A child with an enlarged, painful lymph node had Gram-negative rods with a safety pin appearance. What is the causative agent?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Yersinia pestis. Y. pestis causes bubonic plague, characterized by enlarged, painful lymph nodes called buboes. The Gram-negative rods with a safety pin appearance are seen on Gram stain of Y. pestis. The other choices are incorrect because Francisella tularensis causes tularemia, not lymphadenitis with safety pin appearance. Brucella abortus causes brucellosis, which typically does not present with lymphadenitis. Clostridium botulinum causes botulism, which is not associated with lymphadenitis or safety pin appearance.
Question 2 of 5
A patient with dysentery had a stool sample that was cultured on Endo agar, resulting in colorless colonies. The bacteria were Gram-negative rods. What is the most likely causative agent?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Rationale: 1. Endo agar inhibits the growth of Gram-positive bacteria. 2. Colorless colonies on Endo agar indicate lactose non-fermenting bacteria. 3. Shigella dysenteriae is a lactose non-fermenting, Gram-negative rod, causing dysentery. 4. Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, and Proteus vulgaris are lactose fermenters, so they would produce pink colonies on Endo agar. Therefore, the most likely causative agent is Shigella dysenteriae.
Question 3 of 5
A patient with a respiratory infection had a sputum culture revealing Gram-negative diplococci. The bacteria were oxidase-positive and fermentative. What is the most likely causative agent?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Neisseria meningitidis. This bacterium is a Gram-negative diplococcus, oxidase-positive, and fermentative. Neisseria meningitidis is known to cause respiratory infections and is commonly found in sputum cultures of patients with such infections. Neisseria gonorrhoeae (B) is also a Gram-negative diplococcus but is not fermentative. Moraxella catarrhalis (C) is oxidase-positive but not fermentative. Haemophilus influenzae (D) is not a diplococcus and is not fermentative. Therefore, Neisseria meningitidis is the most likely causative agent based on the given characteristics.
Question 4 of 5
Which bacteria is associated with the formation of dental caries (cavities)?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Streptococcus mutans. This bacterium is associated with the formation of dental caries due to its ability to metabolize sugars and produce acids that demineralize tooth enamel. Streptococcus pneumoniae (choice A) is not typically associated with dental caries. Bacillus anthracis (choice C) causes anthrax, not dental caries. Clostridium botulinum (choice D) causes botulism, not dental caries. Streptococcus mutans' unique characteristics make it the correct choice for the bacteria associated with dental caries.
Question 5 of 5
A patient with a respiratory infection had sputum cultured on Endo agar, revealing green colonies. The bacteria were Gram-negative rods. What is the most likely causative agent?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is known to produce green colonies on Endo agar due to its pyoverdin pigment. It is also a Gram-negative rod. P. aeruginosa commonly causes respiratory infections in immunocompromised patients. Escherichia coli (B) typically produces pink colonies on Endo agar and is more associated with gastrointestinal infections. Salmonella typhi (C) and Shigella dysenteriae (D) are both Enterobacteriaceae that usually do not produce green colonies on Endo agar and are more associated with gastrointestinal infections as well.