Introduction to the Microbial World Quiz

A patient recovering from rhinoplasty is brought to the emergency department suffering from high fever, hypotension, and a diffuse erythematous rash that is desquamating over the palms of his hands.  Blood cultures are positive for Staphylococcus aureus.  Which of the following sets of results is most likely to characterize this patient’s condition?

A biotechnology firm in Brazil is invested in the search for new pharmaceuticals from tropical rainforest flora and fauna.  Samples harvested from soil, water, plant and animal matter enter the laboratory and are analyzed for the presence of novel chemical compounds.  As a first step, the technicians establish pure cultures of organisms from the original mixture.  In a mixture that originally contained viruses, prokaryotes, fungi and parasites, which of the following would most specifically target only the fungi?

A 64-year-old male who is receiving chemotherapy for colon cancer, returns to his oncologist one week after his third dose with a temperature of 40C, tachycardia and blood pressure of 90/50 mmHg.  There is a petechial rash on his trunk and mucous membranes, and his fingertips are dusky.  A blood culture is positive for growth of gram-negative, oxidase-negative, lactose-fermenting bacilli.  Which of the following substances is the most likely cause of these symptoms?

A 20-year-old female student goes to the University Health Care Center complaining of dysuria and dyspareunia. She admits to having recent unprotected sexual intercourse with multiple partners. On pelvic examination, there is a profuse leukorrheic discharge and marked erythema of the vaginal mucosa. Gram stained smear of the discharge shows Gram-negative bacilli and Gram-negative diplococci.  What is the best interpretation of the Gram stained smear in this case?

A 22-year-old male Peace Corps volunteer returns home from Burkina Faso complaining of bloody diarrhea of several day’s duration.  The causal agent is determined to be a Gram-negative, oxidase-negative bacillus spread through fecal/oral transmission.  The toxin produced by this organism is most similar in action to which of the following?