1
Clinical Microbiology Questions with Answers (100%
Correct Answers)
Other study sites I have found helpful (I am not advertising for them, I just found
them helpful):
Ans: http://quizlet.com/19112997/clinical-microbiology-test-1-study-guide-flash-
cards/
http://quizlet.com/32297947/microbiology-i-media-biochemical-tests-for-
enterobacteriaceae-flash-cards/
http://quizlet.com/20801529/0515-bacteria-fungi-viruses-flow-charts-flash-cards/
http://www.microbiologyinpictures.com/index.html
http://www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/micro_biology/250/IDFlowcharts.pdf
http://www.austincc.edu/microbugz/lab_exercises.php
Define the term Microbiology
Ans: The study of microorganisms and their relationships to the environment, humans
and animals in disease
Name the 5 classifications of microorganisms
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,2
Ans: Bacteria, Virus, Mycobacterium, Fungi, Parasites
Blood agar is the most commonly used media in the clinical laboratory. What type
of media is blood agar?
Ans: Enriched media, Differential media (detection of Beta-hemolytic organisms)
List some agars that are generally used in stool cultures and what type they are
Ans: BAP - Enriched, Differential
MAC - Selective, Differential
Campy - Enriched, Selective
Hektoen Enteric (HE) - Selective, Differential
Mac Sorbitol - Enriched, Selective
What media is used for Funal cultures?
Ans: Sabouraud's (Sabs)
Inhibitory Mold (IMA)
Brain Heart Infusion (BHI)
What media is generally used for the cultivation of acid fast bacilli?
Ans: 7H11
7H11 Selective
Explain the difference between Prokaryote and Eukaryote
Ans: Prokaryotes are bacteria that has free floating RNA and DNA floating within the
cell whereas Eukaryotes have a true nucleus surrounded by a nuclear membrane
© 2025 All rights reserved
,3
What are the 3 basic shapes of bacterium
Ans: Cocci, Bacilli and Spirilla
List the growth factor/conditions in order to grow bacteria in the lab
Ans: Atmosphere: Aerobic, Anaerobic, Facultative Anaerobic conditions
Temperature: Psychrophiles, Mesophiles, Thermophiles
pH: Acidic vs Alkalinity environment
Osmotic Pressure: Isotonic conditions
What are the 4 stages of the Microbial Growth Curve
Ans: Lag Phase: Introduction of bacteria into the environment
Log (Exponential) Phase: Grow and multiply i.e.] 2,4,8,16,32,64,128 . . .
Stationary Phase: When the nutrients are depleting and toxic by-products accumulate
Decline (Death) Phase: Nutrients are totally depleted
What is the difference between Normal and Transient Flora?
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, 4
Ans: Normal flora are microorganisms that are permanent residents in certain parts of
the body. Transient flora are organisms that we encounter everyday but do not attach
permanently
What normal flora is found on the skin?
Ans: Staph epidermidis
Staph aureus
Propionibacterium acnes (anaerobic)
Corynebacterium
List some of the enterobacteriaceae organisms
Ans: Salmonella
Shigella
Proteus
E. coli
Klebsiella
Enterobacter
Yersinia
Serratia
List some normal flora organisms located in the mouth
© 2025 All rights reserved
Clinical Microbiology Questions with Answers (100%
Correct Answers)
Other study sites I have found helpful (I am not advertising for them, I just found
them helpful):
Ans: http://quizlet.com/19112997/clinical-microbiology-test-1-study-guide-flash-
cards/
http://quizlet.com/32297947/microbiology-i-media-biochemical-tests-for-
enterobacteriaceae-flash-cards/
http://quizlet.com/20801529/0515-bacteria-fungi-viruses-flow-charts-flash-cards/
http://www.microbiologyinpictures.com/index.html
http://www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/micro_biology/250/IDFlowcharts.pdf
http://www.austincc.edu/microbugz/lab_exercises.php
Define the term Microbiology
Ans: The study of microorganisms and their relationships to the environment, humans
and animals in disease
Name the 5 classifications of microorganisms
© 2025 All rights reserved
,2
Ans: Bacteria, Virus, Mycobacterium, Fungi, Parasites
Blood agar is the most commonly used media in the clinical laboratory. What type
of media is blood agar?
Ans: Enriched media, Differential media (detection of Beta-hemolytic organisms)
List some agars that are generally used in stool cultures and what type they are
Ans: BAP - Enriched, Differential
MAC - Selective, Differential
Campy - Enriched, Selective
Hektoen Enteric (HE) - Selective, Differential
Mac Sorbitol - Enriched, Selective
What media is used for Funal cultures?
Ans: Sabouraud's (Sabs)
Inhibitory Mold (IMA)
Brain Heart Infusion (BHI)
What media is generally used for the cultivation of acid fast bacilli?
Ans: 7H11
7H11 Selective
Explain the difference between Prokaryote and Eukaryote
Ans: Prokaryotes are bacteria that has free floating RNA and DNA floating within the
cell whereas Eukaryotes have a true nucleus surrounded by a nuclear membrane
© 2025 All rights reserved
,3
What are the 3 basic shapes of bacterium
Ans: Cocci, Bacilli and Spirilla
List the growth factor/conditions in order to grow bacteria in the lab
Ans: Atmosphere: Aerobic, Anaerobic, Facultative Anaerobic conditions
Temperature: Psychrophiles, Mesophiles, Thermophiles
pH: Acidic vs Alkalinity environment
Osmotic Pressure: Isotonic conditions
What are the 4 stages of the Microbial Growth Curve
Ans: Lag Phase: Introduction of bacteria into the environment
Log (Exponential) Phase: Grow and multiply i.e.] 2,4,8,16,32,64,128 . . .
Stationary Phase: When the nutrients are depleting and toxic by-products accumulate
Decline (Death) Phase: Nutrients are totally depleted
What is the difference between Normal and Transient Flora?
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 4
Ans: Normal flora are microorganisms that are permanent residents in certain parts of
the body. Transient flora are organisms that we encounter everyday but do not attach
permanently
What normal flora is found on the skin?
Ans: Staph epidermidis
Staph aureus
Propionibacterium acnes (anaerobic)
Corynebacterium
List some of the enterobacteriaceae organisms
Ans: Salmonella
Shigella
Proteus
E. coli
Klebsiella
Enterobacter
Yersinia
Serratia
List some normal flora organisms located in the mouth
© 2025 All rights reserved
