Which of the following bacteria is responsible for causing the disease diphtheria?

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Question 1 of 9

Which of the following bacteria is responsible for causing the disease diphtheria?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Corynebacterium diphtheriae. This bacterium produces a toxin that causes diphtheria. It forms a grayish membrane in the throat, leading to difficulty breathing. Bacillus anthracis (Choice A) causes anthrax, Streptococcus pneumoniae (Choice C) causes pneumonia, and Escherichia coli (Choice D) causes various infections but not diphtheria.

Question 2 of 9

Which of the following bacteria is known for producing a neurotoxin that causes botulism?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Clostridium botulinum. This bacterium produces the neurotoxin responsible for botulism. Clostridium perfringens is associated with gas gangrene, not botulism. Streptococcus pneumoniae causes pneumonia, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae causes gonorrhea, not botulism. Therefore, A is the correct choice.

Question 3 of 9

Which of the following bacteria is most commonly associated with nosocomial infections?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Rationale: 1. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is commonly found in hospital environments. 2. It is an opportunistic pathogen causing various nosocomial infections. 3. Its ability to develop resistance to antibiotics makes it a significant threat. 4. Corynebacterium diphtheriae causes diphtheria, not common nosocomial infections. 5. Shigella sonnei causes foodborne illness, not typically nosocomial infections. 6. "None of the above" is incorrect as Pseudomonas is indeed commonly associated with nosocomial infections.

Question 4 of 9

Exotoxins are:

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Exotoxins are proteins produced inside the microbe cell and then released outside the cell to exert their toxic effects on neighboring cells or tissues. This is why choice A is correct. Choices B and C are incorrect because exotoxins are not meant to act within the same cell they are produced in. Choice D is incorrect because exotoxins are usually released without causing cell lysis; they are secreted by the microbe actively rather than being leaked out due to cell damage.

Question 5 of 9

Which type of bacteria have an outer membrane containing lipopolysaccharides (LPS)?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Gram-negative bacteria. Gram-negative bacteria have an outer membrane containing lipopolysaccharides (LPS). In the Gram staining technique, these bacteria appear pink/red due to the thin peptidoglycan layer, which allows the crystal violet stain to be washed out, revealing the safranin counterstain. Gram-positive bacteria (choice A) have a thick peptidoglycan layer but lack an outer membrane with LPS. Choice C is incorrect since only Gram-negative bacteria possess LPS in their outer membrane. Choice D is incorrect as all bacteria can be classified as either Gram-positive or Gram-negative based on their cell wall structure.

Question 6 of 9

The cell surface of pathogenic gram-negative bacteria can be covered in villi and cilia. What function do these structures have?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Bacterial adhesion to the surface of the host cells, conjugation. Villi and cilia on the cell surface of pathogenic bacteria help in bacterial adhesion to host cells, facilitating the process of infection. Conjugation is the transfer of genetic material between bacterial cells, which can be aided by these structures. The other choices are incorrect because RNA exchange between cells (A) is typically facilitated by different structures like pili, inhibition of complement activity (B) is not related to the function of villi and cilia, and resistance to antibody opsonization (D) is usually achieved through other mechanisms such as capsule formation.

Question 7 of 9

Psychrophiles are also referred to as:

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: cryophiles. Psychrophiles are microorganisms that thrive in cold temperatures. The prefix "cryo-" means cold, which accurately describes the environment in which these organisms grow. Choice B, thermophiles, are organisms that thrive in high temperatures. Choice C, mesophiles, grow best at moderate temperatures. Choice D, psychrotrophs, are organisms that can grow at refrigeration temperatures but have an optimal growth temperature range different from psychrophiles.

Question 8 of 9

Which is NOT TRUE:

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because the defense role of the skin is not related to lysozyme activity. Lysozyme is an enzyme found in tears, saliva, and mucus, not specifically in the skin. The skin's defense role is primarily related to its physical barrier function, low pH creating an acidic environment that inhibits microbial growth, secretion of antimicrobial peptides, and the activity of skin macrophages that phagocytose pathogens. Choices A, B, and C are true statements as they correctly describe different aspects of the skin's defense mechanisms.

Question 9 of 9

A 37-year-old male was admitted to a hospital complaining of abdominal pain, difficulty in swallowing and breathing, constipation, and nausea. He developed respiratory failure and required endotracheal intubation and ventilation. Two days before, the patient consumed dried salted fish bought from an artisanal producer. Laboratory investigation for infectious pathogen was performed using Kitt-Tarozzi's method. Observation under a bright field microscopy revealed the presence of typical microorganisms with tennis racket appearance. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Botulism. Botulism is caused by the toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria found in improperly preserved or canned foods. The symptoms described align with botulism, such as difficulty swallowing and breathing due to muscle paralysis. The tennis racket appearance seen under microscopy corresponds to the characteristic appearance of Clostridium botulinum spores. The other choices can be ruled out based on the clinical presentation and microscopy findings. Cholera typically presents with severe watery diarrhea, Nontyphoidal Salmonella infection with fever and gastrointestinal symptoms, and Typhoid fever with high fever and abdominal pain. Therefore, the most likely diagnosis in this case is botulism.

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