During the skill-building session in microbiology the students need to stain the prepared and fixed sputum smears obtained from a tuberculosis patient. What staining technique should be used in this case?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct staining technique for sputum smears obtained from a tuberculosis patient is Ziehl-Neelsen staining. This technique uses carbol fuchsin dye to stain the acid-fast bacteria, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, red. Here's a step-by-step rationale: 1. Ziehl-Neelsen staining is specifically designed to detect acid-fast bacteria like Mycobacterium tuberculosis. 2. Carbol fuchsin dye is used to penetrate the mycolic acid layer in the cell wall of the bacteria, making them resistant to decolorization. 3. Acid-alcohol is used as a decolorizer to remove the stain from non-acid-fast bacteria. 4. Methylene blue is used as a counterstain to visualize non-acid-fast bacteria in blue. Therefore, Ziehl-Neelsen staining is the most appropriate technique for identifying Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum smears. Other choices like Gram, Giemsa, and

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step 1: Bordetella pertussis is the causative agent of whooping cough, also known as pertussis. Step 2: This bacterium produces toxins that damage the respiratory tract, leading to severe coughing fits. Step 3: Clostridium tetani causes tetanus, Haemophilus influenzae causes respiratory infections, and Staphylococcus aureus causes skin infections. Step 4: Therefore, A is the correct answer as it is the only bacterium directly associated with whooping cough.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because the flu vaccine primarily stimulates systemic immunity rather than local immunity. It is administered parenterally (C) as it is injected into the body. It is a subunit vaccine (B) as it contains only specific antigens of the virus. It is a recommended vaccine (A) due to its effectiveness in preventing influenza. In summary, D is the correct choice as the flu vaccine mainly targets systemic immunity, not local immunity, unlike the other characteristics listed.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Disinfection is the process of destroying the vegetative forms of microorganisms, but their spores may survive. This is why choice C is correct. The other choices are incorrect because: A: Disinfection does not necessarily target spore forms exclusively. B: While disinfection targets vegetative forms, it does not always eliminate spore forms. D: Disinfection is not primarily used for determining the effect of physical agents on microorganisms.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Rationale: The correct answer is A: Syphilis. Spiral microorganisms with pointed ends are characteristic of Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis. This bacterium is known for its corkscrew shape. Other choices are incorrect because Leptospirosis, Lyme disease, and Relapsing fever are caused by different pathogens and do not exhibit spiral microorganisms on blood smears. Syphilis should be suspected in the presence of these specific spiral microorganisms.