Advanced Microbiology ACTUAL
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
B. 4.5-11 x 109/L - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅What is the normal range for white blood
cells in a full blood count?
A. 4.5-11 x 106/L
B. 4.5-11 x 109/L
C. 11.5-14 x 106/L
D. 11.5 - 14 x 109/L
C. Neutrophils - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Which cells, when raised, are most indicative of
a bacterial infection?
A. Lymphocytes
B. Eosinophils
C. Neutrophils
D. Platelets
A. Lymphocytes - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Which cells, when raised, are most indicative
of a viral infection?
A. Lymphocytes
B. Eosinophils
C. Neutrophils
D. Platelets
B. Sepsis is unlikely - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Procalcitonin (PCT) level <0.5 ug/L
indicates what?
A. Sepsis is likely
B. Sepsis is unlikely
C. A viral infection is likely
D. A viral infection is unlikely
,D. Sickle cell anaemia - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Which of the following conditions
would not cause the ESR to be increased?
A. Infection
B. Rheumatoid arthritis
C. Pregnancy
D. Sickle cell anaemia
B. Decreases - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅In Sickle cell anaemia ESR:
A. Increases
B. Decreases
B. Raised markers support the diagnosis, negative markers make infection less likely -
CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅How are levels of inflammatory markers used in clinical
practice?
A. Negative markers support the diagnosis; raised markers make infection less likely
B. Raised markers support the diagnosis, negative markers make infection less likely
C. Raised inflammatory markers are used alone to diagnose infection
D. Negative inflammatory markers mean there is no infection
D. Biliary sepsis - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅If a patient has raised bilirubin and raised
alkaline phosphatase levels and a temperature of 38.5 degrees, out of the following
conditions, which is most likely?
A. Pneumonia
B. Appendicitis
C. Cellulitis
D. Biliary sepsis
A. Significant bacteraemia - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅If time to positivity (TTP) is less
than 24 hours, what does this indicate?
A. Significant bacteraemia
B. There is no infection present
, C. The blood culture should be re-tested
B. Have a thick peptidoglycan layer - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Gram positive organisms:
A. Do not retain the crystal violet stain when washed with acetone
B. Have a thick peptidoglycan layer
C. Possess an outer membrane
D. Have intrinsic resistance to penicilins
C. Bacterial meningitis - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅A lumbar puncture is performed and on
inspection the CSF appears turbid. What is the most likely reason?
A. Viral meningitis
B. Fungal meningitis
C. Bacterial meningitis
D. The patient does not have meningitis
A. Bacterial meningitis (cell type in bacterial is polymorphs) - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅A
lumbar puncture is performed and the predominant cell type found in the CSF is
lymphocytes. Which type of infection can probably be ruled out?
A. Bacterial meningitis
B. Viral meningitis
C. Fungal meningitis
D. TB meningitis
A. Bacterial meningitis (increased protein and decreased CSF: plasma glucose ratio) -
CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅A lumbar puncture is performed and it is found that the CSF
contains increased protein levels at 1.5g/L. What is the most likely reason?
A. Bacterial meningitis
B. Viral meningitis
C. Fungal meningitis
D. TB meningitis
C. Herpes simplex virus - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Most common cause of encephalitis:
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
B. 4.5-11 x 109/L - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅What is the normal range for white blood
cells in a full blood count?
A. 4.5-11 x 106/L
B. 4.5-11 x 109/L
C. 11.5-14 x 106/L
D. 11.5 - 14 x 109/L
C. Neutrophils - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Which cells, when raised, are most indicative of
a bacterial infection?
A. Lymphocytes
B. Eosinophils
C. Neutrophils
D. Platelets
A. Lymphocytes - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Which cells, when raised, are most indicative
of a viral infection?
A. Lymphocytes
B. Eosinophils
C. Neutrophils
D. Platelets
B. Sepsis is unlikely - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Procalcitonin (PCT) level <0.5 ug/L
indicates what?
A. Sepsis is likely
B. Sepsis is unlikely
C. A viral infection is likely
D. A viral infection is unlikely
,D. Sickle cell anaemia - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Which of the following conditions
would not cause the ESR to be increased?
A. Infection
B. Rheumatoid arthritis
C. Pregnancy
D. Sickle cell anaemia
B. Decreases - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅In Sickle cell anaemia ESR:
A. Increases
B. Decreases
B. Raised markers support the diagnosis, negative markers make infection less likely -
CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅How are levels of inflammatory markers used in clinical
practice?
A. Negative markers support the diagnosis; raised markers make infection less likely
B. Raised markers support the diagnosis, negative markers make infection less likely
C. Raised inflammatory markers are used alone to diagnose infection
D. Negative inflammatory markers mean there is no infection
D. Biliary sepsis - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅If a patient has raised bilirubin and raised
alkaline phosphatase levels and a temperature of 38.5 degrees, out of the following
conditions, which is most likely?
A. Pneumonia
B. Appendicitis
C. Cellulitis
D. Biliary sepsis
A. Significant bacteraemia - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅If time to positivity (TTP) is less
than 24 hours, what does this indicate?
A. Significant bacteraemia
B. There is no infection present
, C. The blood culture should be re-tested
B. Have a thick peptidoglycan layer - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Gram positive organisms:
A. Do not retain the crystal violet stain when washed with acetone
B. Have a thick peptidoglycan layer
C. Possess an outer membrane
D. Have intrinsic resistance to penicilins
C. Bacterial meningitis - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅A lumbar puncture is performed and on
inspection the CSF appears turbid. What is the most likely reason?
A. Viral meningitis
B. Fungal meningitis
C. Bacterial meningitis
D. The patient does not have meningitis
A. Bacterial meningitis (cell type in bacterial is polymorphs) - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅A
lumbar puncture is performed and the predominant cell type found in the CSF is
lymphocytes. Which type of infection can probably be ruled out?
A. Bacterial meningitis
B. Viral meningitis
C. Fungal meningitis
D. TB meningitis
A. Bacterial meningitis (increased protein and decreased CSF: plasma glucose ratio) -
CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅A lumbar puncture is performed and it is found that the CSF
contains increased protein levels at 1.5g/L. What is the most likely reason?
A. Bacterial meningitis
B. Viral meningitis
C. Fungal meningitis
D. TB meningitis
C. Herpes simplex virus - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Most common cause of encephalitis:
