ETP- microbiology quiz

Question 1

A patient arrives at your clinic with fatigue and a chronic cough that has lasted for the past 6 weeks. She also notices that she has experienced an unintentional 6 lb weight loss, that she has occasional fevers at night, and that her cough is sometimes productive of small amounts of blood. She immigrated last year from Indonesia. You suspect that your patient may have tuberculosis pneumonia.

You collect sputum for testing. Choose the FALSE statement about Gram staining:

Question 1 Answer

a.
Gram positive organisms appear purple after gram staining

b.
Specimens are placed on a slide and first treated with crystal violet, and then iodine

c.
Saffranin is used to stain specimens after they have been exposed to iodine and crystal violet

d.
Gram negative organisms appear green after gram staining

Answer 1

d.
Gram negative organisms appear green after gram staining

Question 2

A patient arrives at your clinic with fatigue and a chronic cough that has lasted for the past 6 weeks. She also notices that she has experienced an unintentional 6 lb weight loss, that she has occasional fevers at night, and that her cough is sometimes productive of small amounts of blood. She immigrated last year from Indonesia. You suspect that your patient may have tuberculosis pneumonia.

Which of the following is TRUE regarding testing for TB?

Question 2 Answer

a.
An acid-fast stain involves using crystal violet in an acidic environment so that the dye can penetrate the cell wall

b.
A TB skin test will not be positive if the patient only has latent, not active, TB

c.
TB can be seen both with the Gram stain and with the acid-fast stain

d.
The acid-fast stain is only useful in the diagnosis of Mycobacterium species

Answer 2

d.
The acid-fast stain is only useful in the diagnosis of Mycobacterium species

Question 3

A patient arrives at your clinic with fatigue and a chronic cough that has lasted for the past 6 weeks. She also notices that she has experienced an unintentional 6 lb weight loss, that she has occasional fevers at night, and that her cough is sometimes productive of small amounts of blood. She immigrated last year from Indonesia. You suspect that your patient may have tuberculosis pneumonia.

Choose the TRUE statement about extrapulmonary dissemination of TB

Question 3 Answer

a.
TB invasion of the epididymis leading to development of a testicular mass is a well-known complication of TB

b.
TB causes an acute meningitis that is similar in presentation to pneumococcal meningitis

c.
TB causes a transverse myelitis where it infects the lumbar aspects of the spinal cord, leading to lower extremity paralysis

d.
TB invasion of the Fallopian tubes leading to a hydrosalpinx is a well-known complication of TB

Answer 3

a.
TB invasion of the epididymis leading to development of a testicular mass is a well-known complication of TB

Question 4

A patient arrives at your clinic with fatigue and a chronic cough that has lasted for the past 6 weeks. She also notices that she has experienced an unintentional 6 lb weight loss, that she has occasional fevers at night, and that her cough is sometimes productive of small amounts of blood. She immigrated last year from Indonesia. You suspect that your patient may have tuberculosis pneumonia.

What is the characteristic pathologic finding of a latent TB infection within the lungs?

Question 4 Answer

a.
Pleural and parenchymal fibrosis caused by small non-caseating granulomas

b.
Caseating granulomas found in the apex of the lung

c.
Widely disseminated abscesses that are found in the lung parenchyma and in the pleural membranes

d.
Widely disseminated abscesses that are found in the lung parenchyma

Answer 4

b.
Caseating granulomas found in the apex of the lung