.OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank Chapter 13: Control of
Microbial Growth
Chapter 13: Control of Microbial Growth
* = Correct answer
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following is not an example of a fomite?
A. catheter
B. doorknob
C. mosquitoes*
D. towels
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 13, 14, 23
2. HEPA filters are required for which Biological Safety Level (BSL)?
A. BSL 1
B. BSL 2
C. BSL 3
D. BSL 4*
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 14, 37
3. From a clinical perspective, aseptic technique is carried out to do which of the following?
A. clean fomites
B. contaminate fomites
C. introduce contamination in living tissue
D. prevent contamination in living tissue*
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 36, 37
4. The autoclave uses which of the following mechanism(s) for sterilization?
A. pressure
B. temperature
C. pressure and temperature*
D. pressure, temperature, and pH
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 14, 36, 37
5. Autoclaves are designed to kill which of the following heat-resistant microbes?
A. endospores*
B. prions
Page 1 of 24
,.OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank Chapter 13: Control of
Microbial Growth
C. vegetative bacterial and fungal cells
Page 2 of 24
, .OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank Chapter 13: Control of
Microbial Growth
D. viruses
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 14, 36, 37
6. The decimal reduction time (D-value) is how long it takes to kill which percentage of a
microbial population?
A. 10%
B. 50%
C. 90%*
D. 100%
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 14
7. Which of the following actions would be most clearly considered bacteriostatic rather
than bactericidal?
A. autoclaving bacterial cultures
B. placing a bacterial culture in the −80 C freezer*
C. spraying 70% alcohol on a laboratory bench
D. treating a mattress with ethylene oxide
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 14
8. Microbial death follows which type of trend?
A. linear
B. logarithmic*
C. power series
D. variable
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 14
9. Which of the following are the standard conditions for an autoclave?
A. 100 C, 1 psi, 60 minutes
B. 121 C, 1 psi, 60 minutes
C. 121 C, 15 psi, 20 minutes*
D. 212 C, 15 psi, 10 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 14, 36, 37
10. Which of the following is not a milkborne pathogen?
A. Escherichia coli O157:H7
Page 3 of 24
Microbial Growth
Chapter 13: Control of Microbial Growth
* = Correct answer
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following is not an example of a fomite?
A. catheter
B. doorknob
C. mosquitoes*
D. towels
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 13, 14, 23
2. HEPA filters are required for which Biological Safety Level (BSL)?
A. BSL 1
B. BSL 2
C. BSL 3
D. BSL 4*
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 14, 37
3. From a clinical perspective, aseptic technique is carried out to do which of the following?
A. clean fomites
B. contaminate fomites
C. introduce contamination in living tissue
D. prevent contamination in living tissue*
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 36, 37
4. The autoclave uses which of the following mechanism(s) for sterilization?
A. pressure
B. temperature
C. pressure and temperature*
D. pressure, temperature, and pH
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 14, 36, 37
5. Autoclaves are designed to kill which of the following heat-resistant microbes?
A. endospores*
B. prions
Page 1 of 24
,.OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank Chapter 13: Control of
Microbial Growth
C. vegetative bacterial and fungal cells
Page 2 of 24
, .OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank Chapter 13: Control of
Microbial Growth
D. viruses
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 14, 36, 37
6. The decimal reduction time (D-value) is how long it takes to kill which percentage of a
microbial population?
A. 10%
B. 50%
C. 90%*
D. 100%
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 14
7. Which of the following actions would be most clearly considered bacteriostatic rather
than bactericidal?
A. autoclaving bacterial cultures
B. placing a bacterial culture in the −80 C freezer*
C. spraying 70% alcohol on a laboratory bench
D. treating a mattress with ethylene oxide
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 14
8. Microbial death follows which type of trend?
A. linear
B. logarithmic*
C. power series
D. variable
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 14
9. Which of the following are the standard conditions for an autoclave?
A. 100 C, 1 psi, 60 minutes
B. 121 C, 1 psi, 60 minutes
C. 121 C, 15 psi, 20 minutes*
D. 212 C, 15 psi, 10 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 14, 36, 37
10. Which of the following is not a milkborne pathogen?
A. Escherichia coli O157:H7
Page 3 of 24
