ATI RN
microbiology an introduction tortora test bank Questions
Question 1 of 5
Microscopy of a sputum smear revealed acid-fast bacilli stained red using the Ziehl-Neelsen method. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The presence of acid-fast bacilli stained red using the Ziehl-Neelsen method indicates a mycobacterial infection. Among the choices, tuberculosis is the most common mycobacterial infection affecting the lungs, presenting with acid-fast bacilli in sputum. Leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae, but it typically does not show up in sputum smears. Diphtheria is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which is not acid-fast. Pneumonia is a general term for lung inflammation caused by various pathogens, not specifically mycobacteria. Therefore, the correct diagnosis is tuberculosis based on the microscopy findings.
Question 2 of 5
A Gram-negative, comma-shaped bacterium was isolated from a patient with cholera. What is the most likely causative agent?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Vibrio cholerae. This is because Vibrio cholerae is a Gram-negative, comma-shaped bacterium known to cause cholera. The characteristic shape and the association with cholera make it the most likely causative agent in this case. Explanation for incorrect choices: B: Shigella dysenteriae - Shigella dysenteriae is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes bacillary dysentery, not cholera. C: Salmonella typhi - Salmonella typhi is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes typhoid fever, not cholera. D: Campylobacter jejuni - Campylobacter jejuni is a Gram-negative bacterium that commonly causes foodborne gastroenteritis, not cholera.
Question 3 of 5
A 35-year-old patient with a severe respiratory infection had sputum that showed Gram-negative, comma-shaped bacteria. What is the likely causative agent?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Campylobacter jejuni. This bacterium is Gram-negative and comma-shaped, commonly causing respiratory infections. Vibrio cholerae (A) causes cholera, not respiratory infections. Shigella dysenteriae (B) causes dysentery, not respiratory infections. Helicobacter pylori (D) is associated with gastric ulcers, not respiratory infections. Therefore, Campylobacter jejuni is the most likely causative agent based on the given information.
Question 4 of 5
A wound swab from a patient with a deep tissue infection revealed Gram-positive rods with terminal spores. What is the most likely causative agent?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Clostridium perfringens. This is because Clostridium perfringens is a Gram-positive rod bacterium that forms terminal spores. It is commonly associated with deep tissue infections and can cause gas gangrene. Bacillus anthracis (B) causes anthrax and does not typically form spores at the terminal end. Clostridium tetani (C) causes tetanus and Bacillus cereus (D) is more commonly associated with food poisoning. In this case, the presence of terminal spores along with the clinical presentation of a deep tissue infection points towards Clostridium perfringens as the most likely causative agent.
Question 5 of 5
A patient presented with fever and cough. A sputum sample stained by Gram's method revealed Gram-positive diplococci with a capsule. What is the likely causative agent?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Streptococcus pneumoniae. The presence of Gram-positive diplococci with a capsule is characteristic of S. pneumoniae. This bacterium is a common cause of pneumonia, especially in patients with fever and cough. It is also known for causing infections such as otitis media and sinusitis. Staphylococcus aureus (B) is a Gram-positive cocci but does not typically form diplococci or have a capsule. Neisseria meningitidis (C) is a Gram-negative diplococcus commonly associated with meningitis, not pneumonia. Klebsiella pneumoniae (D) is a Gram-negative rod, not a diplococcus, and is more commonly associated with pneumonia in immunocompromised patients.