Microbiology A Systems Approach Test Bank

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Amebiasis. Amebiasis is caused by the parasite Entamoeba histolytica, presenting with symptoms like acute abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea with mucus, and inconstant shape organisms seen in fecal smear. The presence of erythrocytes supports the diagnosis due to the parasite's ability to invade intestinal mucosa causing bleeding. Choice B (Lambliasis) presents with different symptoms like steatorrhea and fatigue. Choice C (Schistosomiasis) is mainly associated with liver and urinary symptoms. Choice D (Intestinal trichomoniasis) commonly presents with watery diarrhea and does not typically cause bloody stools. Therefore, based on the patient's symptoms and fecal smear findings, Amebiasis is the most likely diagnosis.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because coagulase helps bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus to form clots, allowing them to evade the host immune response. This mechanism helps the bacteria to hide from the immune system and establish infection. A. Adhesion to surfaces is usually facilitated by other factors like adhesins. B. Breaking down red blood cells is not a function of coagulase. D. Antibiotic resistance is typically mediated by other mechanisms like efflux pumps or enzymatic inactivation, not coagulase.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Staphylococcus epidermidis. The presence of Gram-positive cocci in clusters, along with being catalase-positive and coagulase-negative, is indicative of Staphylococcus species. Staphylococcus epidermidis is commonly found on the skin, making it likely to cause wound infections. Summary: B: Staphylococcus aureus is catalase-positive and coagulase-positive. C: Streptococcus pyogenes is catalase-negative. D: Enterococcus faecalis is catalase-negative.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because HIV can be transmitted from a mother to a child through multiple modes: during delivery through mixing of blood, during pregnancy through the placenta, and via breastmilk during lactation. Each mode presents a risk of transmission due to the presence of the virus in bodily fluids. Therefore, all of the above options are preferred modes of transmission for HIV from a mother to a child. Choices A, B, and C alone do not fully encompass all the possible routes of transmission, making them incorrect.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This bacterium is responsible for causing tuberculosis, as it has unique characteristics that allow it to infect the lungs and evade the immune system, leading to a chronic infection. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a slow-growing, acid-fast bacterium that can survive and replicate within macrophages, causing the characteristic granulomas seen in tuberculosis. Choice B, Escherichia coli, is a common gut bacterium and is not responsible for tuberculosis. Choice C, Clostridium botulinum, causes botulism, not tuberculosis. Choice D, Salmonella enterica, causes food poisoning, not tuberculosis.