MCQs Answers
1. Neisseria meningitidis:
a. F: Commonest cause in infants is H.influenzae.
b. T
c. T
d. F: Penicillin is the treatment of choice. Prophylaxis - rifampicin & ciprofloxacin.
2. MRSA:
a. T
b. F: No more likely than ordinary S.aureus strains.
c. T
d. T: Colonization in nose, axillae and groin.
e. F: May belong to several phage types. Phage typing is used to distinguish amongst strains of MRSA.
3. Aminoglycoside antibiotics such as gentamicin:
a. F: Acts on ribosomes.
b. T
c. F: No activity against Streptococci.
d. F: Use with caution and close monitoring of blood levels.
e. F: Toxicity to 8th cranial nerve.
4. Heat-sensitive surgical equipment and materials may be sterilized by treatment with:
a. F: Disinfection only.
b. T
c. T
d. F
e. T
5. In bacterial endocarditis:
a. T: May be due to Coxiella, Chlamydia & Legionellae which are difficult to culture.
b. F: Staphylococci are often the cause of endocarditis, esp. on prosthetic valves.
c. T
d. T
e. T: Useful for monitoring of success of therapy.
6. The triple vaccine for prevention of bacterial infections includes protection against:
a. T
b. F
c. T
d. F
e. F
7. Legionnaires' disease:
a. F: Usually acquired from environmental sources.
b. T: Indirect immunofluorescence test for antibodies.
c. F: Grown on special culture media.
d. F: Erythromycin + Rifampicin.
e. F: Typical presentation is patchy bronchopneumonia.
8. The haemolytic uraemic syndrome:
a. T
b. T: Commonest strain is O-157.
c. F: Commonly associated with colitis and bloody diarrhoea.
d. T
e. F: Systemic antibiotic treatment of little benefit.
9. The following act as inhibitors of bacterial cell-wall synthesis:
a. T
b. T
c. F
d. F
e. T
10. The following act as inhibitors of nucleic acid synthesis in bacteria:
a. F
b. T
c. F
d. F
e. T
11. Common causes of meningitis in the neonate include:
a. F: Maternal antibodies provide protection during first 2-3 months of life.
b. T
c. T
d. F
e. F
12. Which of the following relate(s) to actinomycosis?:
a. T
b. F: Sporadic disease.
c. T
d. F: Prolonged course of antibiotics + surgical drainage.
e. T
13. In salmonella food poisoning:
a. F: 24 - 48 hrs.
b. T: Self-limiting.
c. F: Contaminated food - poultry, eggs.
d. F: Confirmed by diagnosis of diarrhoeal stools.
e. F
14. The following are frequently implicated in an acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis:
a. T
b. F
c. T
d. F
e. T: Hospital-acquired infection.
15. Phage typing is a useful procedure in the investigation of outbreaks of infection by:
a. F: Typing is based on capsular & cell-wall antigens.
b. T
c. F
d. T
e. F: Antigenic types are used.
16. The following are recognized causes of gas gangrene in humans:
a. T
b. F
c. T
d. T
e. T
17. The antistreptolysin O titre is raised in infections caused by:
a. F
b. F
c. T
d. F
e. F
18. Organic materials interfere markedly with the bactericidal actions of:
a. F
b. T
c. T
d. F
e. F
19. Lyme disease:
a. F: Hard ticks of wild and domestic animals.
b. T
c. T
d. T: Low sensitivity, often falsely positive.
20. The following antimicrobial drugs are effective against penicillinase-producing staphylococci:
a. F
b. F
c. T
d. T
e. T
21. Reiter's syndrome is:
a. T
b. F
c. F
d. F: Strong association with HLA-B27.
e. T: Others are: Shigella, Campylobacter, Yersinia, Chlamydiae trachomatis.
22. Yaws:
a. F: Usually transmitted by non-sexual contact in crowded & warm climates.
b. T
c. T
d. F
e. T
23. Blood cultures are usually positive in cases of:
a. T
b. F: Shigella rarely invade bloodstream.
c. F: Bacteremia is common in secondary syphilis.
d. T
e. F: Due to cross-reacting antibodies.
24. Organisms that are important in causing infective endocarditis include:
a. T
b. F: they share antigens.
c. T
d. T
e. T
25. Hyaluronidase production is important in the pathogenicity of:
a. T
b. T
c. F
d. F
e. F
26. The following spirochaetes produce disease in man:
a. T
b. T
c. T
d. T
e. T
27. Acute rheumatic fever:
a. T
b. T
c. T
d. F: No vaccine is available.
e. F
28. Coxiella burneii:
a. T
b. F: Adults are usually affected.
c. T
d. F
e. F: Transmission is airborne spread.
29. Trachoma:
a. F
b. T
c. F: More common in hot, dry climates.
d. F: Cornea.
e. F: Resistant to penicillin, treated with tetracycline/chloramphenicol.
30. Following infections with Streptococcus pyogenes, antibody titres may be raised to:
a. T
b. F
c. T
d. T
e. F
31. Exotoxins:
a. F
b. T
c. T
d. T
e. T
32. Endotoxins:
a. F: A component of Gram-negative cells.
b. F: Relatively heat-stable.
c. T: Activate complement and clotting systems.
d. F: Weak inducers.
e. T
33. The following organisms possess capsules:
a. T
b. F
c. T: 84 capsular types.
d. F
e. T
34. The following are classified as 'viridans streptococci':
a. F: Group D streptococci.
b. F
c. F: Group D streptococci.
d. T
e. F: Group B streptococci.
35. The diagnosis of pseudomonas colitis is aided by:
a. T
b. F: Infection is not bacteraemic.
c. F
d. T
e. T
36. Blood culture is commonly positive in the following infections:
a. T
b. F
c. T
d. T
e. F
37. The more common bacteria causing serious lobar pneumonia following infection with influenza viruses are:
a. T
b. T: Most common cause.
c. F
d. T
e. F
38. Erythromycin or tetracycline are first-line antibiotics in the treatment of infections caused by:
a. T
b. T
c. F: Ceftriaxone.
d. T
e. F
39. Mycoplasma:
a. T
b. T
c. T
d. F
e. T
40. Endotoxin can produce:
a. T
b. T
c. T
d. T
e. F
41. Zoonoses transmitted by unpasteurized milk include:
a. T
b. F: Inoculation through abraded skin or mucous membranes.
c. T
d. T
e. F: Primarily a human disease.
42. Gram-negative bacilli include:
a. T
b. T
c. F
d. F
e. T
43. Gram-positive bacterial genera include:
a. F
b. T
c. F
d. F
e. F
44. Bacteria associated with food poisoning are:
a. F
b. T
c. T: Uncommon.
d. F
e. T: Associated with cooked rice
45. Motility is a feature of:
a. T
b. F
c. F
d. T
e. F
46. Production of exotoxin is an important factor in the pathogenicity of:
a. T
b. F
c. F
d. T
e. T
47. Pseudomembranous colitis:
a. F
b. T
c. F
d. T
e. F
48. Pneumococcal vaccine:
a. F: Once every 5 years is adequate.
b. F: Made from capsular polysaccharide antigen of several serotypes.
c. F: Given intramuscularly.
d. T
e. F: Effective in elderly.
49. Coagulase-negative staphylococci:
a. T
b. T
c. T
d. F: Property of coagulase-positive staphylococci.
e. T
50. Pseudomonas aeruginosa:
a. T: Others are S.aureus, H.influenzae and P. cepacis.
b. T
c. T
d. F: More likely to occur in granulocytopenia patients.
e. F: Third-generation cephalosporins & other antibiotics such as piperacillin, azlocillin are active.
51. In whooping cough:
a. F: Erythromycin is the preferred antibiotic.
b. T: No asymptomatic carrier state.
c. F: Pernasal swabs are preferred.
d. F: Immunity declines over the course of a few years.
e. F: Infection in early infancy is not uncommon.
52. Enterococcus faecalis:
a. T: Esp. in the elderly.
b. F
c. T
d. F
e. F: Ampicillin is more effective.
53. Bacteria responsible for community-acquired pneumonia:
a. T
b. T
c. F
d. T
e. F
54. In Diphtheria:
a. T
b. F: Infection may present as necrotic ulcers at other sites.
c. T
d. F: No invasion of deep tissues by pathogen.
55. The following are causes of food- or water-borne infection:
a. T
b. T
c. T
d. F
e. T
56. Features of childhood meningococcal meningitis include:
a. F: CSF glucose levels are reduced to 60% or less.
b. F: Protein level in CSF is usually raised.
c. T
d. T: Often with a purpuric or haemorrhagic rash in which meningococci may be detected.
e. F: Penicillin G.
57. Infective endocarditis:
a. F: Normal valves may be affected.
b. F: Frequent cause in elderly.
c. T: Positive in 95% of untreated cases.
d. F
e. F: Well-known complications of valve replacement, most frequently due to coagulase-negative staphylococci.
58. Myocarditis may be caused by:
a. T
b. F
c. T
d. T
e. F
59. Acute osteomyelitis:
a. T
b. T
c. T
d. F: Affects only one bone.
e. T
60. Antibiotics contraindicated in pregnancy include:
a. T: 8th cranial nerve & renal toxicity.
b. F
c. T: Dental staining & maternal hepatotoxicity.
d. T: Neonatal gray baby syndrome.
e. F
61. In salmonella food poisoning:
a. T
b. T
c. T
d. T: Poultry, meat, eggs & egg-based food.
e. F
62. In Campylobacter infection:
a. F
b. T
c. T
d. F: Selective blood agar medium is used for isolation.
e. T
63. Lyme disease:
a. F: Many organ systems are affected.
b. F: One species: Borrelia burgdorferi.
c. F: Hard ticks.
d. F
e. F: Antibiotic therapy produces a good response particularly in the early stages of infection.
64. Leptospirosis:
a. T
b. F
c. T
d. T
e. T
65. Bacterial pathogens that may be carried asymptomatically in the upper respiratory tract include:
a. F
b. T
c. T
d. T
e. F
66. In human tuberculosis:
a. T
b. F: BCG is a live, attenuated strain.
c. F
d. F: But the disease is not called tuberculosis.
e. F: Cell-mediated.
67. Staphylococcus aureus has a well-established association with:
a. T
b. F
c. T
d. T
e. T
68. In typhoid fever:
a. F: Typhoid fever is itself caused only by S.typhi.
b. T
c. T: Ciprofloxacin.
d. T
e. T
69. Food poisoning may be caused by ingestion of food containing preformed exotoxins produced by:
a. T
b. F
c. T
d. T
e. T
70. Killed whole organisms are used as vaccines in the prevention of:
a. F
b. T
c. T
d. F: Live vaccine.
e. F
71. Streptococcous pneumoniae:
a. T
b. F: Resistant strains are emerging.
c. T
d. F: The typical appearance of Gram-positive diplococci.
e. T
72. Numerous faecal leukocytes, indicative of inflammatory diarrhoea, are detectable in infections due to:
a. T
b. T
c. F
d. F
e. T
73. The following human pathogens are zoonoses involving cattle:
a. T
b. F
c. F
d. F
e. T
74. Clostridium difficile:
a. T
b. T
c. F: Toxin present in asymptomatic carriers.
d. T
e. T
75. Escherichia coli:
a. F
b. F: 40-50% resistant to ampicillin.
c. T
d. T
e. T
76. The following are aminoglycoside antibiotics:
a. T
b. T
c. F
d. T
e. F
77. In pyogenic liver abscesses:
a. F: Commonest presentation is pyogenic fever of unknown origin.
b. F: Due to multiple pathogenes.
c. T: Diverticulosis, malignancy, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis.
d. T
e. T: Aspiration of pus is necessary only for diagnostic purposes.
78. Impetigo in childhood:
a. T
b. T
c. T
d. F: Pustular rash.
e. F
79. In the toxic shock syndrome:
a. F
b. T
c. F: Toxin effects are not influenced by antibiotic treatment.
d. F: Erythematous and scaly.
e. F: Several phage types may be involved.
80. Adequate CSF levels of the following antimicrobial agents are achievable in bacterial meningitis:
a. F
b. T
c. F
d. T
e. T
81. Antigen detection in body fluids is useful in the diagnosis of infection due to:
a. T
b. T
c. F
d. F
e. T
82. Typing of bacteria for epidemiological purposes can be done by the following methods:
a. T
b. T
c. T
d. F
e. T
83. The following infections may be diagnosed with assurance by examination of a Gram film of appropriate samples:
a. F: Culture of pernasal swabs needed.
b. F: Special strains such as Albert's stain needed.
c. T: Presence of Gram-negative diplococci.
d. F: Ziehl-Nelsen Stain.
e. T: Stains as Gram-positive budding oral bodies.
84. Chlamydia trachomatis:
a. T
b. F
c. T
d. T
e. T: Acquired perinatally from affected mothers.
85. Pasteurella multocida:
a. T
b. T
c. T
d. T
e. F: No vaccine.
86. The following are common causes of urinary tract infections in General Practice:
a. T
b. F
c. T
d. T
e. T
87. Bacterial ribosomes:
a. F
b. T
c. F
d. T
e. F
88. Primary peritonitis:
a. T
b. T: Commonest cause foloowed by S.pyogenes.
c. F: Uncommon condition.
d. F: Not foul-smelling.
e. T
89. Antibiotic prophylaxis for colonic surgery:
a. T
b. F
c. T
d. F: Depends on achieving adequate levels of antibiotics in tissues.
e. F
90. Adverse reactions to oral penicillin include:
a. F: Only at high doses.
b. F
c. T
d. T
e. F
91. Monitoring of blood levels of the antibiotic is routinely indicated during treatment with:
a. F
b. T
c. F: Neonates & infants.
d. T
e. F
92. Klebsiella pneumoniae:
a. F
b. F: Always resistant to ampicillin.
c. T
d. T
e. T
93. Lung abscess:
a. F
b. F
c. T: Right-sided endocarditis or osteomyelitis are often the sources.
d. T
e. F
94. Sore throat with fever:
a. F: Half or more cases due to viral infection.
b. F: Treatment deferred until results of tests are out.
c. T
d. F: Rise in antibody titre may not occur for 2 weeks or more.
e. F: Associated with rheumatic fever.
95. Rifampicin is useful in the management of the following conditions:
a. F
b. T
c. T
d. T
96. Antibiotics appropriate for 'blind' therapy of urinary tract infections in General Practice include:
a. T
b. F: Most urinary pathogens are resistant to erythromycin.
c. T
d. T
e. F
97. In mycobacterial infection of the genito-urinary tract:
a. T
b. F
c. F
d. T
e. T
98. Neisseria gonorrhoeae:
a. T
b. F
c. T
d. F
e. T
99. Organisms associated with intra-cerebral abscesses:
a. F
b. T
c. T
d. T
e. T
100. Organisms associated with acute infective colitis include:
a. F
b. F: Affects small bowel.
c. T
d. T
e. F
101. Enteric fever may be caused by:
a. F
b. T
c. F
d. T
e. F
102. If isolated from a patient, the following are associated with active infection:
a. F
b. T
c. T
d. T
e. F: Fecal excretion of Shigella may continue after recovery from active illness.
103. Streptococcus pyogenes:
a. T
b. T
c. F
d. F
e. F
104. Phage typing is used in epidemiological studies to discriminate among:
a. T
b. F: Serotyping.
c. T
d. F
e. F
105. Bacterial spores:
a. T
b. F
c. F
d. T
e. t
106. DNA may be transferred naturally amongst bacteria by:
a. F
b. T
c. T
d. F
e. F
107. Bacterial plasmids:
a. T
b. T
c. T
d. T
e. T
108. Bacteria that may cause infections characterized by skin rash include:
a. T: Erythema chronicum migrans.
b. T: Infection produces characteristic rose spots.
c. T: Scarlet fever.
d. F
e. T: Disseminated disease produces pustular rash.
109. Slaughterhoue workers have a higher than average likelihood of exposure to the following:
a. T
b. F
c. T
d. T
e. T
110. Infection with Vibrio cholerae:
a. F
b. F
c. F
d. T
e. T: Mediated by local IgA response.
111. Helicobacter pylori:
a. F
b. F
c. T
d. T
e. T
112. Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare:
a. F
b. T: Commonest cause.
c. F
d. F
e. T
113. Organisms associated with atypical pneumonia are:
a. F
b. T
c. F
d. T
e. T
114. In a young adult presenting with acute meningitis:
a. F
b. F: Blood cultures are often positive.
c. T
d. F
e. F: Erythromycin does not cross blood-CSF barrier.
115. Infection of closed CSF shunts installed for the relief of hydrocephalus:
a. T: Presents with low-grade pyrexia.
b. T
c. T
d. F
e. F
116. In anaerobic vaginosis:
a. F
b. T
c. F
d. T
e. F
117. Bacteria commonly causing sepsis in burns include:
a. T
b. F
c. T
d. F
e. T
118. Streptococcus pneumoniae is associated with:
a. T
b. T
c. T
d. T
e. F
119. Beta-lactam antibiotics with activity against Pseudomonas spp. include:
a. T
b. F
c. F
d. T
e. F
120. The following is/are true of tuberculosis:
a. F
b. T
c. F: Infection remains dormant and may become active in later life.
d. F: Apical lobe.
e. T
121. Diseases associated with Clostridium perfringens include:
a. F
b. T
c. T
d. T
e. F
122. Direct immunofluorescence tests on sputum smears are helpful in the rapid diagnosis of infections with:
a. T
b. F
c. T
d. T
e. F
123. Urinary tract infection in pregnancy:
a. T
b. F: Best avoided during pregnancy.
c. F
d. T
e. T
124. The following antimicrobial agents are rapidly absorbed and systemically effective after oral administration:
a. T
b. F
c. T
d. F
e. F
125. Infections due to Shigella spp:
a. F
b. F
c. T
d. T
126. Pathogens which cause cervical lymphadenopathy in children includes:
a. T
b. T
c. T
d. F
e. F