Question 1

A sudden outbreak in Angola is characterized by fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding. The disease spreads rapidly among families living in close quarters, and viral RNA is isolated from patient blood. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this outbreak?

Accepted Answer

Ebola virus

Question 2

A pregnant woman in Florida suffers a miscarriage after cleaning her new kitten's litter box. Blood tests reveal cysts from a protist parasite. Which organism is most likely responsible for her condition?

Accepted Answer

Toxoplasma gondii

Question 3

A 4-year-old boy presents with cough, conjunctivitis, fever, and a spreading macular rash. Red spots are observed inside his mouth. What are these spots called, and what is the causative agent?

Accepted Answer

Koplik's spots; Measles virus

Question 4

An 8-year-old boy develops a vesicular rash on his neck and stomach. Within 5 days, dozens of students at his school have similar symptoms. What is the most likely diagnosis and causative agent?

Accepted Answer

Chickenpox; Varicella-zoster virus

Question 5

A 20-year-old man has eye redness and dried mucus crust in the morning. His symptoms resolve with topical antibiotics. What is the most likely diagnosis and cause?

Accepted Answer

Conjunctivitis; Bacteria

Question 6

A day-care worker in North Dakota dies rapidly after developing fever, rash, headache, and abdominal pain. Gram-positive diplococci are observed in cerebrospinal fluid. What is the most likely diagnosis and causative agent?

Accepted Answer

Meningitis; Streptococcus pneumoniae

Question 7

An 8-year-old girl in Wisconsin develops chills, headache, fever, and then slips into a coma. She had recent mosquito bites and brain swelling is seen on a CAT scan. Antibiotics are ineffective. What is the most likely diagnosis and cause?

Accepted Answer

Encephalitis; West Nile virus

Question 8

After eating canned chili, two children develop cranial nerve paralysis and require mechanical ventilation. Bacteria isolated from the chili only grow anaerobically. What is the most likely diagnosis and causative agent?

Accepted Answer

Botulism; Clostridium botulinum

Question 9

A 27-year-old woman with fever and cough dies rapidly despite antibiotics. Catalase-negative, gram-positive cocci are isolated from her blood. What is the most likely diagnosis and causative agent?

Accepted Answer

Septic shock; Streptococcus species

Question 10

A woman returns from a jungle safari with fever, nausea, chills, headache, and jaundice. What is the most likely diagnosis and causative agent?

Accepted Answer

Yellow fever; Arbovirus

Question 11

A patient presents with fever and a red, sore throat. Later, a grayish membrane appears in the throat. What is the most likely diagnosis and causative agent?

Accepted Answer

Diphtheria; Corynebacterium diphtheriae

Question 12

A worker demolishing a bat-infested building in Kentucky develops acute respiratory illness and a lung mass. Fungal cells are found in the mass. What is the most likely diagnosis and causative agent?

Accepted Answer

Lung abscess; Blastomycosis

Question 13

A patient complains of tooth sensitivity and X-rays reveal tooth decay. What is the most likely diagnosis and causative agent?

Accepted Answer

Dental caries; Streptococcus mutans

Question 14

An 8-year-old boy and his brother develop diarrhea, chills, fever, and vomiting after the family purchases a small red-eared slider turtle. Gram-negative rods are isolated from fecal swabs. What is the most likely diagnosis and causative agent?

Accepted Answer

Salmonellosis; Salmonella enterica

Question 15

After a cruise, 80% of passengers develop watery diarrhea and dehydration within three days. What is the most likely diagnosis and causative agent?

Accepted Answer

Viral gastroenteritis; Norovirus

Question 16

A patient with a headache, low-grade fever, sore throat, and enlarged spleen has a negative bacterial throat culture. What is the most likely diagnosis and causative agent?

Accepted Answer

Infectious mononucleosis; Epstein-Barr virus

Question 17

A 7-year-old boy presents with sore throat, headache, vomiting, and swollen tonsils with white exudate. Beta-hemolytic colonies are observed on blood agar. What is the most likely diagnosis and causative agent?

Accepted Answer

Strep throat; Streptococcus pyogenes

Question 18

A baby develops a worsening cough, fever, and runny nose. Chest X-ray shows broken ribs. Gram-negative coccobacilli are isolated from a throat swab. What is the most likely diagnosis and causative agent?

Accepted Answer

Pertussis (Whooping Cough); Bordetella pertussis

Question 19

A patient develops chills, fever, severe headache, muscle pain, and a rash on the palms after a hike. What is the most likely diagnosis, vector, and causative agent?

Accepted Answer

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever; Tick; Rickettsia rickettsii

Question 20

A patient complains of abdominal cramps, weight loss, tiredness, and a craving for laundry detergent. Stool samples are negative for bacteria and viruses. What is the most likely diagnosis and causative agent?

Accepted Answer

Ancylostomiasis; Hookworm

Question 21

A woman develops fever, abdominal pain, nausea, and jaundice two weeks after eating at a restaurant. A news report reveals 25 other cases. What is the most likely diagnosis and causative agent?

Accepted Answer

Enteric hepatitis; HAV or HEV

Question 22

A man in New Mexico develops flu-like symptoms, shortness of breath, and pneumonia-like illness after cleaning a shed with rodent droppings. What is the most likely diagnosis and causative agent?

Accepted Answer

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome; Hantavirus

Microbiology Final Exam Practice: Case Studies and Infectious Diseases

Study Guide - Practice Questions

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