Portage Microbiology Exam #5 Actual Questions and Answers
1. Define the concept of universal precautions (short answer): Universal precautions
means any and all samples, whether known or unknown, are to be treated as potentially hazardous (or pathogenic)
materials
2. List at lease 3 observations a researcher would be sure to note while assess-
ing and unknown microbial sample (short answer): Need to note:
1. Size and shape
2. Any observable motility
3. Gram status (positive or negative)
3. While observing an unknown sample of limited amounts, a researcher must
determine the following observations: 1) the presence of any motility and 2)
its Gram status using the same sample- the liquid sample cannot be divided.
Which would you determine first and why? (short answer): You must determine motility
before determining Gram status. Motility requires a wet mount, while gram staining requires heat fixing the sample.
If one were to begin with the gram stain, the heat fixation process would kill the organism, making any observations
regarding motility impossible. The correct approach would be to place the liquid culture on a glass slide and determine
its motility status. Next, the same liquid culture can be heat fixed and gram stained.
4. A facultative anaerobe is a microorganism capable of growth under what
conditions? (short answer): A facultative anaerobe is capable of growth under aerobic (with oxygen) and
anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions
5. True or False: The Lancefield groups are used to subdivide antigenic groups
of alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus: False. The Lancefield groups are used to subdivide beta-hemolytic
strep
6. The distinctions for Lancefield subgroups lie in its: (select all that apply)
A. Catalase activity
B. Carbohydrate composition of antigens
C. Hemolytic activity
D. All of the above: B. Carbohydrate composition of antigens
7. Rheumatic fever displays hemolytic activity and occurs when if left
untreated: Beta: strep. Pharyngitis
8. True or False: Under most circumstances, staphylococcus can be found in
~80% of human population where it remains non-symptomatic: False. Staphylococcus
in only found (non-symptomatic) in ~30% of the human population
1/7
, Portage Microbiology Exam #5 Actual Questions and Answers
9. Define commensal bacteria (short answer) (know term and definition first): The
bacterium neither harms nor benefits from the host from which it obtains nutrients
10. How can staphylococcus be differentially tested? (short answer): Staphylococcus
species are capable of growth in the presence of bile salts
11. Symptoms of folliculitis: Pus-filled lesions on skin or hair
12. Symptoms of scalded-skin syndrome: Ruptured-pustules; treated with penicilin
13. Symptoms of Impetigo: Childhood skin disease near mouth/nose
14. Symptoms of conjuctivitis: Infections of thin, transparent scieral tissue
15. Symptoms of ophthalmia neonatorum: Infection occurs at time of birth
16. True or False: the causative agent of conjunctivitis can be either bacterial or
viral: True. There are bacterial (staph) and viral forms of conjunctivitis, both resulting in the inflammation of the
conjunctiva and 'pink eye'
17. TrueorFalse: Tuberculosis is best identified by a gram stain: False.Mycobacterium show p
X
2 X
2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 2X X2 X2
oor Gram staining and show be screened via an acid-fast stain
X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2
18. True or False: You can become infected with TB simply by sharing a drink with some
X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X 2
one who is currently infected with TB: False.AspertheCDCguidelines,simplyshaking someone's hand
X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 2X 2X 2X 2X 2X 2X 2X X2 X2
, sharing a drink, or even kissing someone cannot spread TB
X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2
19. Identify the disease based on the following (select all that apply): It is a small, acid-
X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2
fast rod usually remaining asymptomatic for up to 20 years. It affects the skin, ner
X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2
ves, upper respiratory tract and eyes of infected individuals
X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2
A. Tuberculosis
B. Leprosy
C. Scalded-skin syndrome X 2
D. Hansen's disease X 2
E. Bacterial conjunctivitis: B & D (Hansen's disease is another name for leprosy) X 2 X 2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2
20. True or False: Only directly ingesting the pre-formed clostridium toxin (nei-
X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2
ther the bacteria nor its spores) will cause disease in adults: True
X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2
21. While visiting his grandparents, a 10- X2 X2 X2 X2 X2
year old child has green beans for dinner that were harvested from his grandpare
X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2
nts' garden and canned the previous year. Severe illness sets in and the child is t
X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2
aken to the hospital. Botulism is suspected, but what form? (short answer): Foodbourne
X2 X2 X2 X2 X 2 X 2 X 2 X 2 X2 X 2 X 2 X 2 X2
botulism. The child is X2 X2 X2
2/7
1. Define the concept of universal precautions (short answer): Universal precautions
means any and all samples, whether known or unknown, are to be treated as potentially hazardous (or pathogenic)
materials
2. List at lease 3 observations a researcher would be sure to note while assess-
ing and unknown microbial sample (short answer): Need to note:
1. Size and shape
2. Any observable motility
3. Gram status (positive or negative)
3. While observing an unknown sample of limited amounts, a researcher must
determine the following observations: 1) the presence of any motility and 2)
its Gram status using the same sample- the liquid sample cannot be divided.
Which would you determine first and why? (short answer): You must determine motility
before determining Gram status. Motility requires a wet mount, while gram staining requires heat fixing the sample.
If one were to begin with the gram stain, the heat fixation process would kill the organism, making any observations
regarding motility impossible. The correct approach would be to place the liquid culture on a glass slide and determine
its motility status. Next, the same liquid culture can be heat fixed and gram stained.
4. A facultative anaerobe is a microorganism capable of growth under what
conditions? (short answer): A facultative anaerobe is capable of growth under aerobic (with oxygen) and
anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions
5. True or False: The Lancefield groups are used to subdivide antigenic groups
of alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus: False. The Lancefield groups are used to subdivide beta-hemolytic
strep
6. The distinctions for Lancefield subgroups lie in its: (select all that apply)
A. Catalase activity
B. Carbohydrate composition of antigens
C. Hemolytic activity
D. All of the above: B. Carbohydrate composition of antigens
7. Rheumatic fever displays hemolytic activity and occurs when if left
untreated: Beta: strep. Pharyngitis
8. True or False: Under most circumstances, staphylococcus can be found in
~80% of human population where it remains non-symptomatic: False. Staphylococcus
in only found (non-symptomatic) in ~30% of the human population
1/7
, Portage Microbiology Exam #5 Actual Questions and Answers
9. Define commensal bacteria (short answer) (know term and definition first): The
bacterium neither harms nor benefits from the host from which it obtains nutrients
10. How can staphylococcus be differentially tested? (short answer): Staphylococcus
species are capable of growth in the presence of bile salts
11. Symptoms of folliculitis: Pus-filled lesions on skin or hair
12. Symptoms of scalded-skin syndrome: Ruptured-pustules; treated with penicilin
13. Symptoms of Impetigo: Childhood skin disease near mouth/nose
14. Symptoms of conjuctivitis: Infections of thin, transparent scieral tissue
15. Symptoms of ophthalmia neonatorum: Infection occurs at time of birth
16. True or False: the causative agent of conjunctivitis can be either bacterial or
viral: True. There are bacterial (staph) and viral forms of conjunctivitis, both resulting in the inflammation of the
conjunctiva and 'pink eye'
17. TrueorFalse: Tuberculosis is best identified by a gram stain: False.Mycobacterium show p
X
2 X
2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 2X X2 X2
oor Gram staining and show be screened via an acid-fast stain
X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2
18. True or False: You can become infected with TB simply by sharing a drink with some
X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X 2
one who is currently infected with TB: False.AspertheCDCguidelines,simplyshaking someone's hand
X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 2X 2X 2X 2X 2X 2X 2X X2 X2
, sharing a drink, or even kissing someone cannot spread TB
X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2
19. Identify the disease based on the following (select all that apply): It is a small, acid-
X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2
fast rod usually remaining asymptomatic for up to 20 years. It affects the skin, ner
X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2
ves, upper respiratory tract and eyes of infected individuals
X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2
A. Tuberculosis
B. Leprosy
C. Scalded-skin syndrome X 2
D. Hansen's disease X 2
E. Bacterial conjunctivitis: B & D (Hansen's disease is another name for leprosy) X 2 X 2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2
20. True or False: Only directly ingesting the pre-formed clostridium toxin (nei-
X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2
ther the bacteria nor its spores) will cause disease in adults: True
X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2
21. While visiting his grandparents, a 10- X2 X2 X2 X2 X2
year old child has green beans for dinner that were harvested from his grandpare
X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2
nts' garden and canned the previous year. Severe illness sets in and the child is t
X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X2
aken to the hospital. Botulism is suspected, but what form? (short answer): Foodbourne
X2 X2 X2 X2 X 2 X 2 X 2 X 2 X2 X 2 X 2 X 2 X2
botulism. The child is X2 X2 X2
2/7
