Microbiology Practice Test 4
Microbiology NCLEX Practice Test
Microbiology is a key topic within the NCLEX test plan, located under Nursing Science → Clinical Foundations → Microbiology. This section explains pathogens, host defenses, and antimicrobial stewardship essential for infection control. Each test contains 50 questions designed to mirror the difficulty and variety of the real exam.
This is the 4th part of the Microbiology series. To explore all practice tests under this topic, use the “Back to Main Topic” button at the end of the page.
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Microbiology Practice Test 4
The characteristic fever in Dengue Virus is characterized as?
- Tricyclic
- Bicyclic
- Biphasic
- Triphasic
Explanation: Answer reason: Dengue fever classically shows a saddleback pattern with two febrile peaks separated by brief defervescence, i.e., a biphasic fever.
Human Papillomaviruses infect?
- Myocardial cells
- Bone marrow cells
- Basal Epithelial cells
Explanation: Answer reason: HPV targets the basal layer of stratified squamous epithelium, entering through microabrasions; it does not infect myocardium or bone marrow.
During which phase of growth of Penicillium chrysogenum maximum antibiotic production takes place?
- During the first phase
- During the second phase
- During the third phase
- Same in all the phases
Explanation: Answer reason: Penicillin is a secondary metabolite produced mainly during the idiophase (stationary phase) that follows active growth, i.e., the second phase.
Fermentation medium for oxytetracyclin (terramycin) consist of?
- CSL, starch, (NH4)2 SO4, sodium chloride and CaCO3
- CSL, (NH4)2 SO4, sodium chloride and CaCO3
- CSL, starch,(NH4)2 SO4, ammonium chloride and CaCO3
- CSL,(NH4)2 SO4, ammonium chloride and CaCO3
Explanation: Answer reason: Standard industrial medium for oxytetracycline (Streptomyces rimosus) uses corn steep liquor, starch as carbon source, ammonium sulfate, sodium chloride, and CaCO3 for buffering—matching option A.
Media composition for the production of streptomycin is?
- Soybean meal, glucose, peptone, malt extract, sodium chloride
- Soybean meal, glucose, peptone, malt extract, ammonium chloride
- Soybean meal, glucose, peptone, malt extract, calcium carbonate
- Soybean meal, glucose, peptone, malt extract, ammonium sulphate
Explanation: Answer reason: Standard streptomycin fermentation by Streptomyces uses soybean meal, glucose, peptone, malt extract with calcium carbonate as a buffering agent; thus the medium with calcium carbonate is correct.
Antibiotics are typically produced in fed batch reactors because?
- Antibiotic yields are generally higher when cells enter the stationary phase
- The precursors are often toxic to the cells
- Antibiotic yields are generally higher when cell growth slows
- All of the above
Explanation: Answer reason: Antibiotics are secondary metabolites produced best in late growth/early stationary phase; fed-batch permits growth limitation and timed precursor feeding while reducing toxicity from precursors. Therefore all statements are true.
Which of the following event occurs during third phase of growth of P chrysogenum?
- Concentration of antibiotic increases in the medium
- Autolysis of the medium starts
- Slight rise in pH due to liberation of ammonia
- All of the above
Explanation: Answer reason: During the late/third phase of Penicillium chrysogenum fermentation, penicillin accumulation continues, mycelial autolysis begins, and deamination reactions release ammonia causing a slight rise in pH. Thus all listed events occur.
Which of the following changes occur during first phase of growth of Penicillium chrysogenum?
- Growth of mycelia occurs
- Ammonia is liberated in the medium
- Lactic acid present in the corn steep liquor is utilized at the maximum rate
- All of the above
Explanation: Answer reason: During the initial (trophophase) of penicillin fermentation, Penicillium chrysogenum rapidly forms mycelia, utilizes lactic acid from corn steep liquor at a high rate, and releases ammonia into the medium from nitrogen metabolism; therefore all listed changes occur.
The nurse knows that the highest concentration of HIV virus in infected patients is in?
- Saliva
- Cerebrospinal fluid
- Blood
- Semen
Explanation: Answer reason: HIV is present in varying concentrations across body fluids. Blood carries the highest viral load and represents the greatest transmission risk. Semen and CSF contain virus but at lower concentrations. Saliva contains minimal virus and is not considered a transmission source.
What is the cell wall of fungi made up of?
- Chitin
- Murien
- Cellulose
- None
Explanation: Answer reason: Fungal cell walls are primarily composed of chitin and beta-glucans; not cellulose (plants) or murein/peptidoglycan (bacteria).
Which of the following bacteria are classified as Gram-positive rods?
- Clostridium
- Pseudomonas
- Neisseria
- Moraxella
Explanation: Answer reason: Clostridium species are Gram-positive anaerobic bacilli. Pseudomonas is a Gram-negative rod, and Neisseria and Moraxella are Gram-negative diplococci.
What is the bacterial cell wall made of?
- Peptidoglycan
- Murien
- The covalently bonded Amino acid and glucose
- All
Explanation: Answer reason: Bacterial cell walls are composed of peptidoglycan (also called murein), a polymer of sugar units cross‑linked by short peptide chains; thus all statements describe the same material.
Which disease is characterized by a specific appearance?
- Tetanus
- Diphtheria
- Polio
Explanation: Answer reason: Diphtheria classically shows a gray pseudomembrane in the throat and a "bull-neck" appearance, a distinctive clinical look. Tetanus and polio lack such a characteristic visible appearance.
Candidiasis is caused by which type of organism?
- Virus
- Bacteria
- Fungi
- Parasitic
Explanation: Answer reason: Candidiasis is an infection by Candida species, which are yeasts (fungi).
Which of the following diseases is caused by a virus?
- Cholera
- Tetanus
- Measles
- Anthrax
Explanation: Answer reason: Measles is caused by the measles virus (a paramyxovirus). Cholera (Vibrio cholerae), tetanus (Clostridium tetani), and anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) are bacterial diseases.
Malaria is caused by which type of organism?
- Virus
- Bacteria
- Protozoa
- Fungus
Explanation: Answer reason: Malaria is caused by Plasmodium species, which are protozoan parasites transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes.
Which hepatitis virus is mainly transmitted through contaminated water?
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis D
Explanation: Answer reason: Hepatitis A is spread primarily via the fecal–oral route, often through contaminated food or water, whereas hepatitis B, C, and D are spread mainly through blood and body fluids.
Which infection is correctly identified as HPV among the options: (A) HPV, (B) Rhabdo, (C) HIV, (D) Herpes Zoster?
- HPV
- Rhabdo
- HIV
- Herpes Zoster
Explanation: Answer reason: HPV stands for human papillomavirus; among the choices, only option A explicitly names HPV. HIV and Herpes zoster are different viruses, and 'Rhabdo' is not HPV.
Which disease is produced when a Clostridium organism enters a wound and produces a toxin causing crepitus?
- Botulism
- Tetanus
- Gangrene
- Anthrax
Explanation: Answer reason: Gas gangrene, typically caused by Clostridium perfringens, produces exotoxins and gas in tissues leading to crepitus. Botulism and tetanus are neurotoxin-mediated illnesses without tissue crepitus; anthrax is due to Bacillus anthracis.
Which of the following is not a communicable disease?
- Polio
- Diphtheria
- Peptic ulcer
- Hepatitis
Explanation: Answer reason: Polio, diphtheria, and hepatitis are infectious diseases transmitted person-to-person, whereas peptic ulcer is generally considered a non-communicable condition.
What disease is caused by the female Anopheles mosquito?
- Typhoid
- Headache
- Appendix
- Malaria
- None of the above
Explanation: Answer reason: Female Anopheles mosquitoes transmit Plasmodium parasites that cause malaria; typhoid is fecal-oral Salmonella infection, headache is a symptom, and appendix is an organ.
Which of the following infections are sexually transmitted?
- HIV
- Herpes
- Syphilis
- Chlamydia infection
- All of the above
Explanation: Answer reason: All listed conditions—HIV, herpes (HSV), syphilis, and chlamydia—are sexually transmitted infections.
A client is admitted with suspected Legionnaires' disease. Which factor increases the risk of developing Legionnaires' disease?
- Treatment of arthritis with steroids
- Foreign travel
- Eating fresh shellfish twice a week
- Doing volunteer work at the local hospital
Explanation: Answer reason: Corticosteroid therapy causes immunosuppression, increasing susceptibility to Legionella pneumonia. The other options are not established risk factors.
After several hospitalizations for respiratory ailments, a 6-month-old has been diagnosed as having HIV. The infant's respiratory ailments were most likely due to?
- Pneumocystis carinii
- Cytomegalovirus
- Cryptosporidiosis
- Herpes simplex
Explanation: Answer reason: Pneumocystis (jirovecii/carinii) is the most common cause of severe respiratory illness in HIV-infected infants, leading to pneumonia early in life.
Tuberculosis is a ______ disease?
- Communicable disease
- Metabolic disease
- Lifestyle disease
- Genetic disease
Explanation: Answer reason: Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and spreads person-to-person via airborne droplets, making it a communicable infectious disease.
Which of the following organisms is the most common cause of early onset neonatal conjunctivitis?
- GBS
- Toxoplasmosis
- Chlamydia
- Trichomoniasis
Explanation: Answer reason: Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common cause of neonatal conjunctivitis; it typically presents in the first 1–2 weeks of life. Other listed organisms are not common causes.
What is the causative organism for peptic ulcer?
- Helicobacter pylori
- Staphylococci
- Eschericia coli
- Streptococci
Explanation: Answer reason: Helicobacter pylori colonizes the gastric mucosa and is the primary infectious cause of peptic ulcer disease; the other listed bacteria are not typical causes.
German measles is also known as?
- Rubella
- Herpes simplex
- Mumps
- Pertussis
Explanation: Answer reason: German measles is the common name for rubella; the other options are different infections (HSV, mumps, and pertussis).
What is the incubation period of mumps?
- 10 days
- 18 days
- 21 days
- 20 days
Explanation: Answer reason: Mumps typically has an incubation period of about 16–18 days (range 12–25 days); 18 days is the best single answer.
Which one of the following diseases cannot be cured by taking antibiotics?
- Plague
- Amoebiasis
- Leprosy
- Whooping cough
Explanation: Answer reason: Plague, leprosy, and whooping cough are bacterial infections treatable with antibiotics, whereas amoebiasis is a protozoal infection requiring anti-amoebic agents (e.g., metronidazole), not standard antibiotics.
What is the term used to refer to a rod-shaped bacterium?
- Cocci
- Bacilli
- Spirilla
- Vibrio
Explanation: Answer reason: Rod-shaped bacteria are called bacilli; cocci are spherical, spirilla are spiral, and vibrio are comma-shaped.
Which bacteria causes pneumonia?
- Streptococci
- Diplococci
- Pneumoconiosis
- Staphylococci
Explanation: Answer reason: The classic bacterial cause of community‑acquired pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumoniae, a Gram-positive diplococcus; hence 'diplococci' identifies the typical causative organism. Pneumoconiosis is not an infection, and the other options are nonspecific.
Which of the following is classified as a bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI)?
- Herpes
- Genital warts
- Chlamydia
Explanation: Answer reason: Chlamydia trachomatis is a bacterium; herpes (HSV) and genital warts (HPV) are viral infections.
Who discovered Plasmodium in the red blood cells of human beings?
- Ronald Ross
- Mendel
- Laveran
- Stephens
Explanation: Answer reason: Alphonse Laveran first observed the malaria parasite (Plasmodium) inside human red blood cells in 1880; Ross later demonstrated mosquito transmission.
The Dick test is used to diagnose which disease?
- Yellow fever
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever
- Scarlet fever
- All of the above
Explanation: Answer reason: The Dick test checks susceptibility to the erythrogenic toxin of Streptococcus pyogenes, identifying scarlet fever risk; it is not used for yellow fever or RMSF.
What is the most important cause of diarrhea in infants and children?
- Coli
- Salmonella
- Vibrio cholera
- Rotavirus
Explanation: Answer reason: Rotavirus is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis and severe diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide, surpassing bacterial causes such as E. coli, Salmonella, or Vibrio cholera.
Boiling water helps in killing all organisms except which one?
- Fungi
- Bacteria
- Protozoa
- Spores
Explanation: Answer reason: Boiling kills vegetative forms of microbes (bacteria, fungi, protozoa) but not heat-resistant bacterial spores; sterilization methods like autoclaving are needed for spores.
A client with a diagnosis of HPV is at risk for which of the following?
- Hodgkin's lymphoma
- Cervical cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Ovarian cancer
Explanation: Answer reason: High-risk human papillomavirus (especially types 16 and 18) is causally linked to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer, not to Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, or ovarian cancer.
A client visiting a family planning clinic is suspected of having an STI. The best diagnostic test for treponema pallidum is?
- Venereal Disease Research Lab (VDRL)
- Rapid plasma reagin (RPR)
- Florescent treponemal antibody (FTA)
- Thayer-Martin culture (TMC)
Explanation: Answer reason: FTA is a specific treponemal test that confirms Treponema pallidum infection. VDRL and RPR are nonspecific screening tests, and Thayer-Martin culture is for Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
What can cause meningitis?
- Bacteria
- Fungus
- Virus
Explanation: Answer reason: Bacteria are a well-established cause of meningitis and represent the classic, clinically significant etiology.
What enters the human body to transmit Plasmodium?
- Female Anopheles Mosquito
- Sporozoite
- Trophozoite
- Haemozoin
Explanation: Answer reason: The infective stage injected into humans by the female Anopheles mosquito is the sporozoite; trophozoite and haemozoin are blood-stage forms/pigment and not the transmitted form.
Typhoid fever is caused by which type of organism?
- Virus
- Bacteria
- Fungus
- Allergy
Explanation: Answer reason: Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, a bacterium.
Break bone fever is which disease?
- Typhoid Fever
- Dengue Fever
- Malignant fever
- Malaria
Explanation: Answer reason: Breakbone fever is the common nickname for dengue infection due to severe myalgias and arthralgia.
What substance is found in the cell wall of fungi?
- Pectin
- Lignin
- Chitin
- Cellulose
Explanation: Answer reason: Fungal cell walls are composed mainly of chitin and glucans; cellulose, pectin, and lignin are plant cell wall components.
How is an inoculating loop sterilized?
- Hot air oven
- Autoclave
- Flaming
- Radiation
Explanation: Answer reason: Inoculating loops are sterilized by passing them through a flame until red-hot. Ovens and autoclaves are for instruments; radiation is not used for quick loop sterilization.
Which virus is responsible for causing AIDS?
- Influenza virus
- Human papillomavirus
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- Hepatitis B virus
Explanation: Answer reason: AIDS is caused by infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); the other listed viruses cause different diseases (influenza, HPV-related conditions, and hepatitis B).
What causes malaria?
- Bacteria
- Fungus
- Parasite
- Virus
Explanation: Answer reason: Malaria is caused by Plasmodium protozoan parasites transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes.
What is the most common cause of meningoencephalitis in children?
- HSV
- Measles
- Arbovirus
- Enterovirus
Explanation: Answer reason: Enteroviruses (e.g., coxsackie and echoviruses) are the most common cause of aseptic meningitis and meningoencephalitis in children; HSV is a common cause of sporadic encephalitis but not the most common in children.
Which of the following communicable diseases is also termed 'Rubeola'?
- Measles
- Mumps
- Chicken pox
- Cholera
Explanation: Answer reason: Rubeola is the medical term for measles; rubella refers to German measles.
Which illness caused by a virus usually affects the parotid glands on each side of the face?
- Mumps
- Measles
- Goiter
- Cancer
Explanation: Answer reason: Mumps virus classically causes painful swelling of the parotid glands (parotitis), often bilaterally.
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