Basic Bacteriology

Billy, a 25-year-old IV drug user, presents to the clinic with a severely inflamed abscess in the region of his latest injection (left ante-cubital fossa).  His mental state is normal and his vitals are shown below.

Which of the following best describes his condition?

1. There is nothing wrong with Billy, he is completely normal
2. Billy has a Simple infection
3. Billy is exhibiting the signs of sepsis 
4. Billy is exhibiting Toxic Shock Syndrome 

You are on clinical rotations in the ER when a patient presents with classic “flu-like” symptoms including fever, chills, myalgia, and malaise. The patient had just returned from Liberia two weeks prior and has only just developed symptoms. You are concerned about the possibility of Ebola. Which phase of infectious disease progression is this patient most likely displaying?

1. Incubation
2. Invasive
3. Prodrome
4. Acme
5. Convalescence

Bacterial meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges caused by a bacterial infection. Usually, these infections are due to organisms that have capsules and can, therefore, cross the blood brain barrier. Which of the following is NOT an example of an organism that can cause bacterial meningitis?

1. Haemophilus influenzae
2. Streptococcus pneumoniae
3. Neisseria meningitidis
4. Escherichia coli
5. Streptococcus pyogenes

Which of the following best describes the way in which Penicillin works as an antibiotic?

1. Penicillin attacks the teichoic acid in bacterial gram positive cell walls
2. Penicillin reduces the toxin effects of IgA protease
3. Penicillin inhibits transpeptidase, the enzyme responsible for catalyzing the crosslinks between NAG and NAM in peptidoglycan
4. Penicillin works by reducing the toxic effects of LPS in gram negative bacteria
5. Penicillin mimics the structure of para-aminobenzoic acid, a compound critical for the synthesis of folic acid

What is the classic physiological response to endotoxin?

1. Fever
2. Systemic Inflammation
3. Diarrhea
4. A & B
5. A, B, & C

Which of the following would be LEAST susceptible to penicillin?

1. Obligate aerobe
2. Obligate anaerobe
3. Spore-forming bacteria
4. Gram positive
5. Gram negative

E. coli is a type of bacteria that can be found normally within your intestines. While infection is possible, most strains of E. coli are considered harmless. Which of the following serves as the best explanation for why this is?

1. Only specific strains of E. coli have flagellin
2. Only specific strains of E. coli have pili
3. Only specific strains of E. coli have lipid A
4. Only specific strains of E. coli have tubulin  
5. Only specific strains of E. coli produce endospores

Mannheimia succiniciproducens was a bacterium discovered In 2004. This organism has a unique metabolism, growing best in environments with low oxygen and high carbon dioxide. Which of the following terms best describes the metabolic needs of this organism?  

1. Microaerophile
2. Obligate anaerobe
3. Aerotolerant anaerobe
4. Facultative anaerobe
5. Capnophile

The year is 2030 and Blue Bell is again under closure for recent outbreaks of food poisoning following the consumption of their ice cream. Which of the following bacteria are most likely to be the culprit?

1. Yersinia enterocolitica
2. Listeria monocytogenes
3. Campylobacter
4. A & B are equally likely
5. A, B, & C are equally likely

You are on rotations in a family practice clinic when a patient presents with a suspected bacterial infection. You send a sample of the patient’s septum to the lab to be analyzed. The lab performs a gram stain and a variety of agar cultures. The gram stain is pictured below, however, the lab reports that none of the agar mediums showed any growth after 48 hours. Which of the following bacteria is the most likely culprit?

1. Bacillus
2. Actinomyces
3. Nocardia
4. Mycobacteria   
5. Pseudomonas

Bacterial Toxins

A 25 year-old male presented to a free clinic in the Dominican Republic, complaining of a worsening sore throat, fever, chills, and a loud barking cough. His exam revealed an adherent, thick gray plaque at the back of his throat. What pathogen is most likely causing this patient’s illness?

1. Bacillus anthracis
2. Bordetella pertussis
3. Corynebacterium diphtheriae
4. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
5. Vibrio cholera

In regards to the question above: Which of the following bacteria produce a toxin that has a similar mechanism of action?

1. Bacillus anthracis
2. Bordetella pertussis
3. Shigella dysenteriae
4. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
5. Vibrio cholera

Which of the following is NOT true regarding Neisseria meningitidis?

1. N. meningitidis has LOS in its cell wall, which mimics the effects of LPS.
2. N. meningitidis produces IgA protease, which allows it to adhere to mucosal membranes.
3. N. meningitidis has a capsule, allowing it to cross the blood brain barrier
4. N. meningitidis is an important microorganism to consider in individuals with a splenectomy
5. N. meningitidis is a spore forming bacteria

A 25 year old female presents to the Emergency Department displaying symptoms of shock. She is also exhibiting a high fever, diarrhea, and a sunburn-like rash. Which of the following microorganisms is most likely responsible for her symptoms?

1. Staphylococcus aureus  
2. Bordetella pertussis
3. Shigella dysenteriae
4. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
5. Vibrio cholera

36 year old male patient presents to the Emergency Department with bloody diarrhea. His primary care physician had prescribed him antibiotics two days prior, but despite this the patient notes worsening symptoms. Upon the completion of blood work, you come to find that this patient is also displaying thrombocytopenia, anemia, and renal dysfunction. Which of the following bacteria is the most likely culprit of this patient’s symptoms?

1. Shigella dysenteriae
2. Vibrio cholera
3. Enterohemorrhagic E. coli  
4. Enterotoxigenic E. coli  
5. Bacillus anthracis