NBDHE FINAL EXAM ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GUARANTEE A+
✔✔Which term BEST describes the ability of a microorganism to cause disease?
A. Stability
B. Virulence
C. Productivity
D. Transmissibility - ✔✔B. Virulence
✔✔The cellular structure that is used to classify a bacterial species as gram-positive or
gram-negative is the - ✔✔cell wall.
✔✔All are typical bacterial cell shapes EXCEPT one. Which one is the EXCEPTION?
A. Spirochete
B. Coccus
C. Bacillus
D. Disk - ✔✔Disk
✔✔The prefix simpto- designates bacteria that take on which type of arrangement? -
✔✔Chain
✔✔Which is the MOST appropriate definition of a microorganism?
A. An organism with individual cells that can be seen with the unaided eye
B. An organism that does not contain a nucleus
C. An organism with individual cells that are too small to be seen with the unaided eye
D. An organism that does not contain a cell membrane - ✔✔C. An organism with
individual cells that are too small to be seen with the unaided eye
✔✔The key to Alexander Fleming's recognition of penicillin as a tool for fighting
bacterial infections was his observation that - ✔✔mold inhibited the growth of nearby
bacteria.
✔✔The best definition of a virus is - ✔✔an acellular microorganism that requires a host
for replication
✔✔You are observing a cell through a microscope and note that it does not have a
nucleus. From this observation, you can also conclude that it most likely - ✔✔has a cell
wall containing peptidoglycan.
✔✔Structures that enable the transfer of genetic material between bacterial cells are -
✔✔Pili
,✔✔T/F Observation of microbial cell arrangement can be used to differentiate between
streptococci and staphylococci. Observation of microbial cell shape can be used to
differentiate between streptococci and staphylococci. - ✔✔The first statement is true,
and the second statement is false
✔✔A patient is believed to be infected by Mycobacterium These microorganisms have a
waxy cell wall. Which tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis. of the following
staining methods can verify this assumption? - ✔✔Acid-fast
✔✔Which type of microorganism is most likely to be found in the large intestine, where
there is no exposure to oxygen? - ✔✔Obligate anaerobe
✔✔Which type of microorganism generally uses aerobic etabolism when oxygen is
available but can carry on fermentation in an anaerobic environment when necessary -
✔✔Facultative anaerobes
✔✔All increase the virulence of bacteria EXCEPT one. Which one is the EXCEPTION?
A. Exotoxins
B. Bacterial glycocalyx
C. Lipopolysaccharides
D. Glycosaminoglycans - ✔✔D. Glycosaminoglycans
✔✔Most human pathogens are classified as - ✔✔Mesophiles
✔✔Microbes that are classified as beta-hemolytic have the ability to - ✔✔lyse red blood
cells
✔✔Antibiotics may lead to septic shock if used to treat - ✔✔gram-negative bacteria that
produce endotoxins
✔✔T/F A change in the location of normal flora may result in an opportunistic infection.
Opportunistic infections contribute to nosocomial infections - ✔✔Both statements are
true
✔✔New viruses rarely cause disease, but if disease is produced, it is very severe. On
the basis of this characteristic, the pathogenicity and virulence of a rticular virus would
be considered - ✔✔low, high.
✔✔T/F Convalescence is the disease stage in which the number of microorganisms
causing the disease and the intensity of signs and symptoms decrease. During
,convalescence the host is beginning to feel better, but the pathogen causing the
disease may still be spread to others. - ✔✔Both statements are true.
✔✔The virus that causes influenza is often transmitted over a distance less than 1
meter (m) by an unprotected sneeze. This is an example of what type of transmission? -
✔✔Droplet
✔✔The mucous membranes of the body are portals of entry for pathogens. Which
mucous membranes are MOST common site of entry for infectious agents? -
✔✔Respiratory tract
✔✔Bacterial endospores or spores are a problem in sterilizing and equipment because -
✔✔spores are resistant to physical and chemical agents
✔✔Bacterial endospores or spores are a problem in sterilizing instruments and
equipment because - ✔✔spores are resistant to physical and chemical agents
✔✔Which object is a fomite? - ✔✔Hypodermic needle
✔✔Interferons nonspecifically inhibit the spread of which type of infections? - ✔✔Viral
✔✔All are considered nonspecific body immune defenses EXCEPT one. Which one is
the EXCEPTION?
A. Antibodies
B. Mucous membranes
C. Intact skin
D. Phagocytic cells
E. Lysozyme in tears - ✔✔A. Antibodies
✔✔T-helper cells produce - ✔✔Cytokines
✔✔Which is NOT a characteristic of adaptive immunity?
A Nonspecific
B. Possesses memory
C. Requires activation
D. Represents third line of defense - ✔✔A. Nonspecific
✔✔Antigens are - ✔✔molecules that the body specifically recognizes as foreign
✔✔An antibiotic binds to the 30S ribosomal subunit. On the basis of this information,
this antibiotic inhibits which of the following processes? - ✔✔Translation in prokaryotes
, ✔✔A viral infection may be treated with an antibiotic Antivirals are difficult to develop
because viruses use host cell machinery for their replication. - ✔✔The first statement is
false , and the second statement is true.
✔✔The BEST definition of sterilization is - ✔✔killing or removal of all microorganisms in
a material or an object.
✔✔Standard methods of sterilization are NOT effective in destruction of - ✔✔prions.
✔✔A chemical agent that kills pathogenic microbes in general is a(n) - ✔✔germicide
✔✔Proper filtration of air and liquids relies on which property? - ✔✔Filter pore size
✔✔Which BEST describes the selective toxicity haracteristic of antimicrobials?
A. The ability to harm microbes without significantly harming host cells
B. The ability to cause host cell damage without significantly damaging microbes C. The
ability to harm the host cell and leave viruses
D. The ability to titrate dosage that can be selectively and safely administered to a host -
✔✔A. The ability to harm microbes without significantly harming host cells
✔✔T/F The mechanism of action for naturally occurring penicillin and its synthetic
derivatives such as methicillin and ampicillin is the inhibition of cell wall synthesis. The
spectrum of action for beta-lactam antibiotics equally includes gram-negative and gram-
positive - ✔✔The first statement is true, and the second statement is false
✔✔Erythromycin and tetracycline both act by - ✔✔inhibiting protein synthesis.
✔✔The total number of existing cases of a particular disease in a particular population
within a given period is referred to as the - ✔✔Prevalence
✔✔All are thought to be beneficial aspects of fever EXCEPT one. Which one is the
EXCEPTION?
A. Stimulating interferon responses
B. Inhibiting microbial growth
C. Stimulating the action of phagocytes D. Stimulating tissue repair - ✔✔D. Stimulating
tissue repair
✔✔Which reaction is characterized by degranulation of mast cells as a result of antigen-
antibody complexes affixed to cell surfaces? - ✔✔D. Delayed hypersensitivity
✔✔What is the etiologic agent of syphilis? - ✔✔Treponema pallidum
GUARANTEE A+
✔✔Which term BEST describes the ability of a microorganism to cause disease?
A. Stability
B. Virulence
C. Productivity
D. Transmissibility - ✔✔B. Virulence
✔✔The cellular structure that is used to classify a bacterial species as gram-positive or
gram-negative is the - ✔✔cell wall.
✔✔All are typical bacterial cell shapes EXCEPT one. Which one is the EXCEPTION?
A. Spirochete
B. Coccus
C. Bacillus
D. Disk - ✔✔Disk
✔✔The prefix simpto- designates bacteria that take on which type of arrangement? -
✔✔Chain
✔✔Which is the MOST appropriate definition of a microorganism?
A. An organism with individual cells that can be seen with the unaided eye
B. An organism that does not contain a nucleus
C. An organism with individual cells that are too small to be seen with the unaided eye
D. An organism that does not contain a cell membrane - ✔✔C. An organism with
individual cells that are too small to be seen with the unaided eye
✔✔The key to Alexander Fleming's recognition of penicillin as a tool for fighting
bacterial infections was his observation that - ✔✔mold inhibited the growth of nearby
bacteria.
✔✔The best definition of a virus is - ✔✔an acellular microorganism that requires a host
for replication
✔✔You are observing a cell through a microscope and note that it does not have a
nucleus. From this observation, you can also conclude that it most likely - ✔✔has a cell
wall containing peptidoglycan.
✔✔Structures that enable the transfer of genetic material between bacterial cells are -
✔✔Pili
,✔✔T/F Observation of microbial cell arrangement can be used to differentiate between
streptococci and staphylococci. Observation of microbial cell shape can be used to
differentiate between streptococci and staphylococci. - ✔✔The first statement is true,
and the second statement is false
✔✔A patient is believed to be infected by Mycobacterium These microorganisms have a
waxy cell wall. Which tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis. of the following
staining methods can verify this assumption? - ✔✔Acid-fast
✔✔Which type of microorganism is most likely to be found in the large intestine, where
there is no exposure to oxygen? - ✔✔Obligate anaerobe
✔✔Which type of microorganism generally uses aerobic etabolism when oxygen is
available but can carry on fermentation in an anaerobic environment when necessary -
✔✔Facultative anaerobes
✔✔All increase the virulence of bacteria EXCEPT one. Which one is the EXCEPTION?
A. Exotoxins
B. Bacterial glycocalyx
C. Lipopolysaccharides
D. Glycosaminoglycans - ✔✔D. Glycosaminoglycans
✔✔Most human pathogens are classified as - ✔✔Mesophiles
✔✔Microbes that are classified as beta-hemolytic have the ability to - ✔✔lyse red blood
cells
✔✔Antibiotics may lead to septic shock if used to treat - ✔✔gram-negative bacteria that
produce endotoxins
✔✔T/F A change in the location of normal flora may result in an opportunistic infection.
Opportunistic infections contribute to nosocomial infections - ✔✔Both statements are
true
✔✔New viruses rarely cause disease, but if disease is produced, it is very severe. On
the basis of this characteristic, the pathogenicity and virulence of a rticular virus would
be considered - ✔✔low, high.
✔✔T/F Convalescence is the disease stage in which the number of microorganisms
causing the disease and the intensity of signs and symptoms decrease. During
,convalescence the host is beginning to feel better, but the pathogen causing the
disease may still be spread to others. - ✔✔Both statements are true.
✔✔The virus that causes influenza is often transmitted over a distance less than 1
meter (m) by an unprotected sneeze. This is an example of what type of transmission? -
✔✔Droplet
✔✔The mucous membranes of the body are portals of entry for pathogens. Which
mucous membranes are MOST common site of entry for infectious agents? -
✔✔Respiratory tract
✔✔Bacterial endospores or spores are a problem in sterilizing and equipment because -
✔✔spores are resistant to physical and chemical agents
✔✔Bacterial endospores or spores are a problem in sterilizing instruments and
equipment because - ✔✔spores are resistant to physical and chemical agents
✔✔Which object is a fomite? - ✔✔Hypodermic needle
✔✔Interferons nonspecifically inhibit the spread of which type of infections? - ✔✔Viral
✔✔All are considered nonspecific body immune defenses EXCEPT one. Which one is
the EXCEPTION?
A. Antibodies
B. Mucous membranes
C. Intact skin
D. Phagocytic cells
E. Lysozyme in tears - ✔✔A. Antibodies
✔✔T-helper cells produce - ✔✔Cytokines
✔✔Which is NOT a characteristic of adaptive immunity?
A Nonspecific
B. Possesses memory
C. Requires activation
D. Represents third line of defense - ✔✔A. Nonspecific
✔✔Antigens are - ✔✔molecules that the body specifically recognizes as foreign
✔✔An antibiotic binds to the 30S ribosomal subunit. On the basis of this information,
this antibiotic inhibits which of the following processes? - ✔✔Translation in prokaryotes
, ✔✔A viral infection may be treated with an antibiotic Antivirals are difficult to develop
because viruses use host cell machinery for their replication. - ✔✔The first statement is
false , and the second statement is true.
✔✔The BEST definition of sterilization is - ✔✔killing or removal of all microorganisms in
a material or an object.
✔✔Standard methods of sterilization are NOT effective in destruction of - ✔✔prions.
✔✔A chemical agent that kills pathogenic microbes in general is a(n) - ✔✔germicide
✔✔Proper filtration of air and liquids relies on which property? - ✔✔Filter pore size
✔✔Which BEST describes the selective toxicity haracteristic of antimicrobials?
A. The ability to harm microbes without significantly harming host cells
B. The ability to cause host cell damage without significantly damaging microbes C. The
ability to harm the host cell and leave viruses
D. The ability to titrate dosage that can be selectively and safely administered to a host -
✔✔A. The ability to harm microbes without significantly harming host cells
✔✔T/F The mechanism of action for naturally occurring penicillin and its synthetic
derivatives such as methicillin and ampicillin is the inhibition of cell wall synthesis. The
spectrum of action for beta-lactam antibiotics equally includes gram-negative and gram-
positive - ✔✔The first statement is true, and the second statement is false
✔✔Erythromycin and tetracycline both act by - ✔✔inhibiting protein synthesis.
✔✔The total number of existing cases of a particular disease in a particular population
within a given period is referred to as the - ✔✔Prevalence
✔✔All are thought to be beneficial aspects of fever EXCEPT one. Which one is the
EXCEPTION?
A. Stimulating interferon responses
B. Inhibiting microbial growth
C. Stimulating the action of phagocytes D. Stimulating tissue repair - ✔✔D. Stimulating
tissue repair
✔✔Which reaction is characterized by degranulation of mast cells as a result of antigen-
antibody complexes affixed to cell surfaces? - ✔✔D. Delayed hypersensitivity
✔✔What is the etiologic agent of syphilis? - ✔✔Treponema pallidum
