BIOL 271 Module 5 | Microbiology w/Lab Exam Q&A |
Portage Learning
1. What is the term that describes the ability of a microorganism to cause disease?
A) Virulence
B) Pathogenicity
C) Infection
D) Opportunism
Correct Answer: Pathogenicity
Rationale: Pathogenicity is the qualitative ability of an organism to cause disease.
Virulence refers to the degree of severity of the disease it causes. An infection is the
invasion of a host by a pathogen, while opportunism describes the ability of normally
harmless microbes to cause disease when host defenses are compromised.
2. The severity or degree of disease caused by a pathogen is termed:
A) Pathogenicity
B) Infection
C) Virulence
D) Transmission
Correct Answer: Virulence
Rationale: Virulence measures the severity or harmfulness of a disease. A highly
virulent strain causes more severe illness than a strain with low virulence.
Pathogenicity is the ability to cause disease, not the severity of that disease.
3. A researcher working with an unknown clinical sample in the laboratory must treat
the sample as:
A) Non-hazardous if it came from a healthy patient
,B) Potentially hazardous using universal precautions
C) Safe to handle without personal protective equipment
D) Requiring no special handling procedures
Correct Answer: Potentially hazardous using universal precautions
Rationale: Universal precautions require that all handlers treat all samples, known
or unknown, as potentially hazardous (or pathogenic) materials. This practice was
implemented in response to the AIDS epidemic to prevent healthcare worker
exposure to infected blood and body fluids.
4. What is the primary role of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the
microbiology laboratory?
A) To identify the microorganism being studied
B) To protect handlers from potential hazards
C) To sterilize the work surfaces
D) To enhance the growth of microbial cultures
Correct Answer: To protect handlers from potential hazards
Rationale: PPE, which includes gloves, gowns, face shields, and masks, should
always be used to protect handlers from potential hazards in the laboratory. It serves
as a barrier between the handler and potentially infectious materials.
5. Which of the following is a standard precaution used in the laboratory?
A) Only wearing gloves when handling known pathogens
B) Hand hygiene and disinfection of surfaces
C) Using the same equipment without cleaning
D) Avoiding the use of barrier gowns
Correct Answer: Hand hygiene and disinfection of surfaces
,Rationale: Standard precautions in the laboratory include hand hygiene, wearing
gloves, barrier gowns and face shields, and disinfection of surfaces. These practices
help prevent the transmission of infectious agents.
6. The standard precaution used to limit the spread of infection via hands or fomites
is:
A) Airborne precautions
B) Droplet precautions
C) Contact precautions
D) Protective isolation
Correct Answer: Contact precautions
Rationale: Contact precautions limit the spread of infection via hands or fomites.
These are additional precautions taken beyond standard precautions when a specific
pathogen is suspected or confirmed, to prevent its transmission.
7. When analyzing a microbial sample, a lab researcher would be certain to note:
A) The patient's medical history
B) The size and shape of the microorganisms
C) The antibiotic susceptibility of the organism
D) The color of the growth media
Correct Answer: The size and shape of the microorganisms
Rationale: When analyzing a microbial sample, a researcher notes morphological
characteristics, including the size and shape of the microorganisms. This is a
fundamental step in the preliminary identification of an unknown organism.
8. When observing a microbial sample under a microscope, the presence of which of
the following should be documented?
, A) The color of the culture media
B) The patient's symptoms
C) Observable motility
D) The temperature of the incubator
Correct Answer: Observable motility
Rationale: When analyzing a microbial sample, the researcher should observe and
document the presence of any observable motility when viewed under a microscope.
Motility is a key characteristic used in the identification of microorganisms.
9. Once differential testing has concluded, the technician should document:
A) The patient's demographic information
B) Whether the organism was Gram-positive or Gram-negative
C) The cost of the testing materials
D) The date the sample was collected
Correct Answer: Whether the organism was Gram-positive or Gram-negative
Rationale: After differential testing, the technician should document whether the
organism was Gram-positive or Gram-negative. They should also note any chemical
reactions such as gas production, fermentation, or distinct color changes.
10. What tool assists in identifying microorganisms based on their traits?
A) A flow cytometer
B) A spectrophotometer
C) Dichotomous keys
D) An autoclave
Correct Answer: Dichotomous keys
Portage Learning
1. What is the term that describes the ability of a microorganism to cause disease?
A) Virulence
B) Pathogenicity
C) Infection
D) Opportunism
Correct Answer: Pathogenicity
Rationale: Pathogenicity is the qualitative ability of an organism to cause disease.
Virulence refers to the degree of severity of the disease it causes. An infection is the
invasion of a host by a pathogen, while opportunism describes the ability of normally
harmless microbes to cause disease when host defenses are compromised.
2. The severity or degree of disease caused by a pathogen is termed:
A) Pathogenicity
B) Infection
C) Virulence
D) Transmission
Correct Answer: Virulence
Rationale: Virulence measures the severity or harmfulness of a disease. A highly
virulent strain causes more severe illness than a strain with low virulence.
Pathogenicity is the ability to cause disease, not the severity of that disease.
3. A researcher working with an unknown clinical sample in the laboratory must treat
the sample as:
A) Non-hazardous if it came from a healthy patient
,B) Potentially hazardous using universal precautions
C) Safe to handle without personal protective equipment
D) Requiring no special handling procedures
Correct Answer: Potentially hazardous using universal precautions
Rationale: Universal precautions require that all handlers treat all samples, known
or unknown, as potentially hazardous (or pathogenic) materials. This practice was
implemented in response to the AIDS epidemic to prevent healthcare worker
exposure to infected blood and body fluids.
4. What is the primary role of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the
microbiology laboratory?
A) To identify the microorganism being studied
B) To protect handlers from potential hazards
C) To sterilize the work surfaces
D) To enhance the growth of microbial cultures
Correct Answer: To protect handlers from potential hazards
Rationale: PPE, which includes gloves, gowns, face shields, and masks, should
always be used to protect handlers from potential hazards in the laboratory. It serves
as a barrier between the handler and potentially infectious materials.
5. Which of the following is a standard precaution used in the laboratory?
A) Only wearing gloves when handling known pathogens
B) Hand hygiene and disinfection of surfaces
C) Using the same equipment without cleaning
D) Avoiding the use of barrier gowns
Correct Answer: Hand hygiene and disinfection of surfaces
,Rationale: Standard precautions in the laboratory include hand hygiene, wearing
gloves, barrier gowns and face shields, and disinfection of surfaces. These practices
help prevent the transmission of infectious agents.
6. The standard precaution used to limit the spread of infection via hands or fomites
is:
A) Airborne precautions
B) Droplet precautions
C) Contact precautions
D) Protective isolation
Correct Answer: Contact precautions
Rationale: Contact precautions limit the spread of infection via hands or fomites.
These are additional precautions taken beyond standard precautions when a specific
pathogen is suspected or confirmed, to prevent its transmission.
7. When analyzing a microbial sample, a lab researcher would be certain to note:
A) The patient's medical history
B) The size and shape of the microorganisms
C) The antibiotic susceptibility of the organism
D) The color of the growth media
Correct Answer: The size and shape of the microorganisms
Rationale: When analyzing a microbial sample, a researcher notes morphological
characteristics, including the size and shape of the microorganisms. This is a
fundamental step in the preliminary identification of an unknown organism.
8. When observing a microbial sample under a microscope, the presence of which of
the following should be documented?
, A) The color of the culture media
B) The patient's symptoms
C) Observable motility
D) The temperature of the incubator
Correct Answer: Observable motility
Rationale: When analyzing a microbial sample, the researcher should observe and
document the presence of any observable motility when viewed under a microscope.
Motility is a key characteristic used in the identification of microorganisms.
9. Once differential testing has concluded, the technician should document:
A) The patient's demographic information
B) Whether the organism was Gram-positive or Gram-negative
C) The cost of the testing materials
D) The date the sample was collected
Correct Answer: Whether the organism was Gram-positive or Gram-negative
Rationale: After differential testing, the technician should document whether the
organism was Gram-positive or Gram-negative. They should also note any chemical
reactions such as gas production, fermentation, or distinct color changes.
10. What tool assists in identifying microorganisms based on their traits?
A) A flow cytometer
B) A spectrophotometer
C) Dichotomous keys
D) An autoclave
Correct Answer: Dichotomous keys
