OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank
Chapter 24: Digestive System Infections
Chapter 24: Digestive System Infections
* = Correct answer
Multiple Choice
1. What is the pharynx?
A. an accessory digestive organ
B. part of the gastrointestinal tract*
C. part of the mouth
D. the exit of the gastrointestinal tract
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: N/A
2. What type of digestion occurs in the mouth?
A. chemical breakdown of food only
B. physical breakdown of food only
C. chemical and physical breakdown of food*
D. neither chemical nor physical breakdown of food
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: N/A
3. What types of microbes are found in the mouth?
A. archaea only
B. bacteria only
C. archaea and bacteria*
D. neither archaea nor bacteria
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23, 24
4. The environment in the stomach is which of the following?
A. acidic*
B. alkaline
C. neutral
D. variable
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: N/A
5. Oral thrush is caused by which pathogen?
A. Candida spp., including C. albicans*
B. Herpes simplex virus 1
C. Prevotella intermedia
D. Streptococcus mutans
Page 1 of 16
,OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank
Chapter 24: Digestive System Infections
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23, 24
6. Shigellosis is also known as which of the following?
A. amoebic dysentery
B. bacillary dysentery*
C. salmonellosis
D. typhoid fever
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23
7. Typhoid fever is caused by which pathogen?
A. Salmonella paratyphi only
B. Salmonella typhi only
C. Salmonella paratyphi or S. typhi*
D. Shigella dysenteriae
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23
8. Cholera is best controlled by which of the following?
A. eradicating mosquito populations and using insect repellant
B. increasing stomach acidity by avoiding the use of antacids and proton pump inhibitors
C. using good sanitation and hygiene practices to the greatest extent possible*
D. using prophylactic antibiotics for those visiting areas where cholera is endemic
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 14, 23
9. Plaque on teeth is an example of which of the following?
A. a biofilm*
B. a cavity
C. an infection
D. dental caries
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 21, 23, 24
10. How does Staphylococcus aureus cause gastrointestinal symptoms?
A. by producing enterotoxins when growing in food*
B. by producing neurotoxins that are released into the food
C. by reproducing in the intestines, causing enteritis
D. by reproducing in the stomach, causing gastritis and ulcers
Page 2 of 16
, OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank
Chapter 24: Digestive System Infections
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 23
11. What is the scientific name of the unusual bacterium that can survive in the acidic
environment of the stomach and is associated with peptic ulcers, as well as with increased
risk of stomach cancer?
A. Escherichia coli O157:H7
B. Heliobacter pylori*
C. Salmonella typhi
D. Vibrio cholerae
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23, 24
12. What is the minimum safe holding temperature for cooked food?
A. 4 °C
B. 40 °C
C. 60 °C*
D. 80 °C
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 14, 23
13. Which group contains the most dangerous E. coli strains for causing gastrointestinal illness?
A. EHEC*
B. EIEC
C. EPEC
D. ETEC
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 23
14. Hemolytic uremic syndrome is a serious condition that may lead to all but which of the
following?
A. hypersecretion of fluids*
B. kidney failure
C. postinfection irritable bowel syndrome
D. reactive arthritis
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 23
15. Which is true about the treatment for ETEC?
A. Antibiotic treatment should be avoided because it increases the risk of HUS, although
supportive therapy may be helpful.
B. Antibiotics are not recommended, although supportive therapy may be helpful.
Page 3 of 16
Chapter 24: Digestive System Infections
Chapter 24: Digestive System Infections
* = Correct answer
Multiple Choice
1. What is the pharynx?
A. an accessory digestive organ
B. part of the gastrointestinal tract*
C. part of the mouth
D. the exit of the gastrointestinal tract
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: N/A
2. What type of digestion occurs in the mouth?
A. chemical breakdown of food only
B. physical breakdown of food only
C. chemical and physical breakdown of food*
D. neither chemical nor physical breakdown of food
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: N/A
3. What types of microbes are found in the mouth?
A. archaea only
B. bacteria only
C. archaea and bacteria*
D. neither archaea nor bacteria
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23, 24
4. The environment in the stomach is which of the following?
A. acidic*
B. alkaline
C. neutral
D. variable
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: N/A
5. Oral thrush is caused by which pathogen?
A. Candida spp., including C. albicans*
B. Herpes simplex virus 1
C. Prevotella intermedia
D. Streptococcus mutans
Page 1 of 16
,OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank
Chapter 24: Digestive System Infections
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23, 24
6. Shigellosis is also known as which of the following?
A. amoebic dysentery
B. bacillary dysentery*
C. salmonellosis
D. typhoid fever
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23
7. Typhoid fever is caused by which pathogen?
A. Salmonella paratyphi only
B. Salmonella typhi only
C. Salmonella paratyphi or S. typhi*
D. Shigella dysenteriae
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23
8. Cholera is best controlled by which of the following?
A. eradicating mosquito populations and using insect repellant
B. increasing stomach acidity by avoiding the use of antacids and proton pump inhibitors
C. using good sanitation and hygiene practices to the greatest extent possible*
D. using prophylactic antibiotics for those visiting areas where cholera is endemic
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 14, 23
9. Plaque on teeth is an example of which of the following?
A. a biofilm*
B. a cavity
C. an infection
D. dental caries
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 21, 23, 24
10. How does Staphylococcus aureus cause gastrointestinal symptoms?
A. by producing enterotoxins when growing in food*
B. by producing neurotoxins that are released into the food
C. by reproducing in the intestines, causing enteritis
D. by reproducing in the stomach, causing gastritis and ulcers
Page 2 of 16
, OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank
Chapter 24: Digestive System Infections
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 23
11. What is the scientific name of the unusual bacterium that can survive in the acidic
environment of the stomach and is associated with peptic ulcers, as well as with increased
risk of stomach cancer?
A. Escherichia coli O157:H7
B. Heliobacter pylori*
C. Salmonella typhi
D. Vibrio cholerae
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23, 24
12. What is the minimum safe holding temperature for cooked food?
A. 4 °C
B. 40 °C
C. 60 °C*
D. 80 °C
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 14, 23
13. Which group contains the most dangerous E. coli strains for causing gastrointestinal illness?
A. EHEC*
B. EIEC
C. EPEC
D. ETEC
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 23
14. Hemolytic uremic syndrome is a serious condition that may lead to all but which of the
following?
A. hypersecretion of fluids*
B. kidney failure
C. postinfection irritable bowel syndrome
D. reactive arthritis
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 23
15. Which is true about the treatment for ETEC?
A. Antibiotic treatment should be avoided because it increases the risk of HUS, although
supportive therapy may be helpful.
B. Antibiotics are not recommended, although supportive therapy may be helpful.
Page 3 of 16
