BRAINSCAPE1
GTC Microbiology Final Exam with
complete solutions latest version
What is septicemia? How does it differ from bacteremia? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Septicema refers to the presence of microbial infection of the blood that causes illness.
Bacteremia refers specifically to bacterial septicemia, though many physicians use the
terms bacteremia and septicemia interchangeably.
What is the cause of endotoxic shock? - CORRECT ANSWER-Dying gram-negative
bacteria disintegrate, releasing endotoxin, which is the lipid A portion of LPS from the
outer membrane, into the blood.
What is the cause of puerperal fever? - CORRECT ANSWER-Puerperal refers to the
period immediately after childbirth. Puerperal fever is caused by Strep pyogenes, which
is usually harmless on the skin or in the mouth but causes severe complications when it
enters the blood. Bacteria pass uterine wall into the blood.
Explain how rheumatic fever develops. What type of hypersensitivity is that? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Rheumatic fever only occurs in 3% of the cases of people who
have had a strep infection. It develops as a result of an autoimmune response. The
antibodies directed against streptococcal antigens cross-react with heart antigens which
then affect the valves of the heart. This is type 3 immune complex hypersensitivity.
Name three types of bacteria that cause acute bacterial endocarditis: - CORRECT
ANSWER-1) Viridians sreptococcus
2) Staph aureus
3) Strep pneumonia
many other bacteria
What causes "cat-scratch fever?" - CORRECT ANSWER-Bartonella
Name the signs of cat scratch fever: - CORRECT ANSWER-swelling where scratched
or bit, lymph node involvement
BRAINSCAPE1
, BRAINSCAPE1
What does it mean that the disease ofter is "subclinical?" - CORRECT ANSWER-The
disease may go unnoticed because of the absence of symptoms, even though clinical
tests reveal signs of disease.
Name the causative agent in plague: - CORRECT ANSWER-Yersinia pestis
What is a buboe? - CORRECT ANSWER-Buboes are smooth, enlarged, reddened, and
painfully inflamed lymph nodes.
How does transmission occur? - CORRECT ANSWER-Fleas are the vectors for the
spread of the bacteria. Infected fleas that have left their normal animal hosts can spread
plague to humans.
What type of plague has the highest mortality? - CORRECT ANSWER-pneumonic
plague: spread to lungs (or through inhalation)
Can plague be treated? - CORRECT ANSWER-Yes, streptomycin and tetracycline are
effective against Yersinia.
Name the bacteria that cause Lyme disease? - CORRECT ANSWER-Borrelia burdorferi
(gram - rod)
How is it transmitted? - CORRECT ANSWER-ticks (biological vector)
Is a bull's eye rash always seen? What is that? - CORRECT ANSWER-No, 80% of
patients have the bull's eye rash at the site of infection. It is erythema migrans.
Can it be treated? - CORRECT ANSWER-Yes, penicillins, tetracyclines, or
cephalosporins are effective in the first phase, later phases are difficult to treat.
What are some late manifestations of the disease? - CORRECT ANSWER-headache,
fatigue, in small % nervous (CNS) and cardiovascular symptoms, eventually chronic
arthritis
How is Rocky Mountain spotted fever transmitted? - CORRECT ANSWER-ticks
(biological vectors)
Which bacterium causes the disease? - CORRECT ANSWER-Rickettsia
What type of rash is seen? - CORRECT ANSWER-subcuaneous hemorrhages known
as petechiae
What are other symptoms? - CORRECT ANSWER-fever, headache, chills, muscle pain,
nausea and vomitting
How serious is the disease? - CORRECT ANSWER-Early diagnosis is crucial because
prompt treatment often makes the difference between recovery and death. It is
BRAINSCAPE1
, BRAINSCAPE1
impossible to eliminate the ticks in the wild, in part because they can survive without
feeding for more than four years.
What is the cause of "mono?" - CORRECT ANSWER-Bacteria = Epstein Barr Virus;
"Mono" is a result of a patient's cellular immune system with an infected W BC.
Which cells are involved? - CORRECT ANSWER-After initially infecting epithelial cells
of the throat and salivary glands, Epstein-Barr virus enters the blood, where it invades B
lymphocytes (WBC).
Characterize the virus that causes this disease: - CORRECT ANSWER-EBV is an
enveloped, double-stranded DNA virus that replicates in a host's cell's nucleus.
Why is this called a "persistent" infection? - CORRECT ANSWER-virus can invade
many organs (liver, myocarditis, glomerulonephritis)
How is it transmitted? - CORRECT ANSWER-Transmission of Epstein-Barr virus
usually occurs via saliva, often during the sharing of drinking glasses or while kissing.
Infectious mononucleosis is commonly known as the "kissing disease".
What is the cause of Burkitt's Lymphoma? - CORRECT ANSWER-EBV suppresses
apoptosis (programmed cell death) of B lymphocytes, causing infected cells to become
immortal. In combination with a suppressed immune system, such infected B cells are
one source of cancers, like Burkitt's lymphoma, a cancer of the jaw.
What are the signs? - CORRECT ANSWER-1) sore throat, fever, enlarged lymph
nodes, many other varied symptoms
2) "persistent" infection: virus can invade many organs like the liver, heart (myocarditis),
and kidney (glomerulonephritis)
Who is most at risk for CMV infections? - CORRECT ANSWER-Fetuses (teratogenic)
and immunocompromised patients are susceptible to severe complications of CMV
infection. Newborns may develope hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, hearing\visual
problems, and CNS involvement. Immunosuppressed adults may develope pneumonia
or systemic diseases.
What does CMV stand for? - CORRECT ANSWER-Cytomegalovirus
What does it mean that this disease is often "subclinical?" - CORRECT ANSWER-
"Subclinical" refers to the fact that CMV, while remaining in a latent state, does not have
clinical symptoms until the immune system is compromised.
Name three viral hemorrhagic fever: - CORRECT ANSWER-1) Dengue fever
2) yellow fever
3) Ebola hemorrhagic fever
BRAINSCAPE1
GTC Microbiology Final Exam with
complete solutions latest version
What is septicemia? How does it differ from bacteremia? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Septicema refers to the presence of microbial infection of the blood that causes illness.
Bacteremia refers specifically to bacterial septicemia, though many physicians use the
terms bacteremia and septicemia interchangeably.
What is the cause of endotoxic shock? - CORRECT ANSWER-Dying gram-negative
bacteria disintegrate, releasing endotoxin, which is the lipid A portion of LPS from the
outer membrane, into the blood.
What is the cause of puerperal fever? - CORRECT ANSWER-Puerperal refers to the
period immediately after childbirth. Puerperal fever is caused by Strep pyogenes, which
is usually harmless on the skin or in the mouth but causes severe complications when it
enters the blood. Bacteria pass uterine wall into the blood.
Explain how rheumatic fever develops. What type of hypersensitivity is that? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Rheumatic fever only occurs in 3% of the cases of people who
have had a strep infection. It develops as a result of an autoimmune response. The
antibodies directed against streptococcal antigens cross-react with heart antigens which
then affect the valves of the heart. This is type 3 immune complex hypersensitivity.
Name three types of bacteria that cause acute bacterial endocarditis: - CORRECT
ANSWER-1) Viridians sreptococcus
2) Staph aureus
3) Strep pneumonia
many other bacteria
What causes "cat-scratch fever?" - CORRECT ANSWER-Bartonella
Name the signs of cat scratch fever: - CORRECT ANSWER-swelling where scratched
or bit, lymph node involvement
BRAINSCAPE1
, BRAINSCAPE1
What does it mean that the disease ofter is "subclinical?" - CORRECT ANSWER-The
disease may go unnoticed because of the absence of symptoms, even though clinical
tests reveal signs of disease.
Name the causative agent in plague: - CORRECT ANSWER-Yersinia pestis
What is a buboe? - CORRECT ANSWER-Buboes are smooth, enlarged, reddened, and
painfully inflamed lymph nodes.
How does transmission occur? - CORRECT ANSWER-Fleas are the vectors for the
spread of the bacteria. Infected fleas that have left their normal animal hosts can spread
plague to humans.
What type of plague has the highest mortality? - CORRECT ANSWER-pneumonic
plague: spread to lungs (or through inhalation)
Can plague be treated? - CORRECT ANSWER-Yes, streptomycin and tetracycline are
effective against Yersinia.
Name the bacteria that cause Lyme disease? - CORRECT ANSWER-Borrelia burdorferi
(gram - rod)
How is it transmitted? - CORRECT ANSWER-ticks (biological vector)
Is a bull's eye rash always seen? What is that? - CORRECT ANSWER-No, 80% of
patients have the bull's eye rash at the site of infection. It is erythema migrans.
Can it be treated? - CORRECT ANSWER-Yes, penicillins, tetracyclines, or
cephalosporins are effective in the first phase, later phases are difficult to treat.
What are some late manifestations of the disease? - CORRECT ANSWER-headache,
fatigue, in small % nervous (CNS) and cardiovascular symptoms, eventually chronic
arthritis
How is Rocky Mountain spotted fever transmitted? - CORRECT ANSWER-ticks
(biological vectors)
Which bacterium causes the disease? - CORRECT ANSWER-Rickettsia
What type of rash is seen? - CORRECT ANSWER-subcuaneous hemorrhages known
as petechiae
What are other symptoms? - CORRECT ANSWER-fever, headache, chills, muscle pain,
nausea and vomitting
How serious is the disease? - CORRECT ANSWER-Early diagnosis is crucial because
prompt treatment often makes the difference between recovery and death. It is
BRAINSCAPE1
, BRAINSCAPE1
impossible to eliminate the ticks in the wild, in part because they can survive without
feeding for more than four years.
What is the cause of "mono?" - CORRECT ANSWER-Bacteria = Epstein Barr Virus;
"Mono" is a result of a patient's cellular immune system with an infected W BC.
Which cells are involved? - CORRECT ANSWER-After initially infecting epithelial cells
of the throat and salivary glands, Epstein-Barr virus enters the blood, where it invades B
lymphocytes (WBC).
Characterize the virus that causes this disease: - CORRECT ANSWER-EBV is an
enveloped, double-stranded DNA virus that replicates in a host's cell's nucleus.
Why is this called a "persistent" infection? - CORRECT ANSWER-virus can invade
many organs (liver, myocarditis, glomerulonephritis)
How is it transmitted? - CORRECT ANSWER-Transmission of Epstein-Barr virus
usually occurs via saliva, often during the sharing of drinking glasses or while kissing.
Infectious mononucleosis is commonly known as the "kissing disease".
What is the cause of Burkitt's Lymphoma? - CORRECT ANSWER-EBV suppresses
apoptosis (programmed cell death) of B lymphocytes, causing infected cells to become
immortal. In combination with a suppressed immune system, such infected B cells are
one source of cancers, like Burkitt's lymphoma, a cancer of the jaw.
What are the signs? - CORRECT ANSWER-1) sore throat, fever, enlarged lymph
nodes, many other varied symptoms
2) "persistent" infection: virus can invade many organs like the liver, heart (myocarditis),
and kidney (glomerulonephritis)
Who is most at risk for CMV infections? - CORRECT ANSWER-Fetuses (teratogenic)
and immunocompromised patients are susceptible to severe complications of CMV
infection. Newborns may develope hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, hearing\visual
problems, and CNS involvement. Immunosuppressed adults may develope pneumonia
or systemic diseases.
What does CMV stand for? - CORRECT ANSWER-Cytomegalovirus
What does it mean that this disease is often "subclinical?" - CORRECT ANSWER-
"Subclinical" refers to the fact that CMV, while remaining in a latent state, does not have
clinical symptoms until the immune system is compromised.
Name three viral hemorrhagic fever: - CORRECT ANSWER-1) Dengue fever
2) yellow fever
3) Ebola hemorrhagic fever
BRAINSCAPE1
