medical microbiology test bank

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: peptidoglycan and calcium dipicolinate. Bacterial endospores are resistant structures formed by certain bacterial species under unfavorable conditions. Peptidoglycan provides structural support, while calcium dipicolinate aids in heat resistance. Lipid bilayers (choice A) are not a primary component. Capsular polysaccharides (choice C) are part of the bacterial capsule, not the endospore. Teichoic acid (choice D) is a component of the cell wall, not the endospore.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Polar placement of volutin granules. This feature is indicative of Corynebacterium diphtheria. Volutin granules are metachromatic granules found in the polar region of the bacterial cell, which is characteristic of this species. This feature helps differentiate it from other bacteria. Explanation: A: Fence-like position of the agent's cells is not a specific morphologic feature of Corynebacterium diphtheria. B: Spores that exceed cells in diameter is not a characteristic feature of Corynebacterium diphtheria. D: Presence of the capsule is not a distinguishing morphologic feature of Corynebacterium diphtheria. In summary, the polar placement of volutin granules is the most indicative feature for determining the type of agent as Corynebacterium diphtheria, making it the correct choice.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC is a U.S. government agency responsible for protecting public health and safety. The correct answer is the only choice that accurately reflects the agency's purpose. Choice B (Children's Disease Center) is incorrect because the CDC's scope is not limited to children's health. Choice C (Central Disaster Control Center) is incorrect as the CDC primarily focuses on disease prevention. Choice D (Central Drug Evaluation and Control Center) is incorrect as the CDC's main focus is not on drug evaluation. Thus, the correct answer is A as it aligns with the CDC's mission and responsibilities.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Bacteriological. This method involves isolating and culturing the causative bacteria from the wound material to determine the species. This allows for further testing to confirm gaseous gangrene and identify the specific pathogen. Choice B: Allergic is incorrect as it pertains to immune responses, not identifying bacteria. Choice C: Bacterioscopic is incorrect as it refers to microscopic examination of bacteria, not species identification. Choice D: Serological is incorrect as it involves testing for antibodies in the blood, not identifying the causative agent directly.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. Method of Ziel-Neelsen. This method uses a special stain (carbol fuchsin) to detect acid-fast organisms like Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis. The staining procedure involves heating the slide to help penetrate the mycolic acid layer of the bacteria, making them resistant to decolorization by acid-alcohol. The red stained acid-fast bacilli stand out against the blue counterstain. This method is specific for identifying tubercle bacilli in sputum samples. Choice B: Method of Romanowsky-Giemsa is used for staining blood smears and is not suitable for detecting acid-fast bacilli in sputum. Choice C: Method of Gram is used for staining bacteria based on their cell wall composition and is not effective for identifying acid-fast bacilli like Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Choice D: Method of Neisser is not a specific staining method for acid-fast bacilli and is not suitable