Introduction to Medical Microbiology

Question 1

Bacteriology - the study of

Answer 1

Bacteria

Question 2

The study of Bacteria

Answer 2

Bacteriology

Question 3

Phycology- the study of

Answer 3

Algae

Question 4

The study of algae

Answer 4

Phycology

Question 5

Mycology- the study of

Answer 5

Fungi

Question 6

The study of Fungi

Answer 6

Mycology

Question 7

The study of Protozoa

Answer 7

Protozoology

Question 8

Virology - the study of

Answer 8

Viruses

Question 9

Parasitology - the study of

Answer 9

Parasites

Question 10

Immunology - the study of

Answer 10

Host defence mechanisms

Question 11

The study of host defence mechanisms

Answer 11

Immunology

Question 12

Epidemiology - the study of

Answer 12

Frequency / distribution of disease

Question 13

The study of frequency / distribution of disease

Answer 13

Epidemiology

Question 14

Aetiology - the study of

Answer 14

Causes of disease

Question 15

The study of causes of disease

Answer 15

Aetiology

Question 16

Pathology - the study of

Answer 16

Disease

Question 17

The study of disease

Answer 17

Pathology

Question 18

What are Koch’s postulates?

Answer 18

1. Microorganism must be present in every case of the disease and not in healthy people.
2. Microorganism must be cultured
3. If microorganism is injected into healthy animal it must produce same disease as original patient
4. Microorganism must then be isolated from sick host and must be the same as original.

Question 19

Why is it important to know the normal flora of a particular body site?

Answer 19

• Enable easier ID of pathogenic organisms
• Enable greater understanding of how organisms cause disease
• Understand role of microorganisms in stimulating immune response
• Prevent infections at sites of trauma by use of control agents.

Question 20

Bacteria not in biofilms are called?

Answer 20

Planktonic bacteria

Question 21

What is a biofilm?

Answer 21

Population of bacteria that adhere to surfaces in a complex aggregation.

Question 22

What could be a medically important microorganism residing in a biofilm of an in-dwelling catheter or surgical implant?

Answer 22

Staphylococcus spp.
Eg. epidermidis (CONS) indwelling catheter
Eg. aureus (CO positive) in surgical implants

Question 23

What is peptidoglycan primarily made up of?

Answer 23

Carbohydrate backbone and peptide cross bridge.

Question 24

What type of bacteria need an acid-fast stain?

Answer 24

Bacteria like Mycobacterium - have mycolic acids in the cell wall (lipids) that make bacteria difficult to stain - normal stains don’t penetrate into the cell wall.