Microbiology worksheet with answers

Which microorganism most often causes oral or vaginal thrush?

1. AStaphylococcus aureus
2. BHerpes simplex virus
3. CCandida albicans
4. DTrichomonas vaginalis

Who discovered penicillin in 1928?

1. AJoseph Lister
2. BRobert Koch
3. CAlexander Fleming
4. DLouis Pasteur

What is meant by the normal flora (microbiota) of the body?

1. AMicroorganisms that normally live on or in the body without causing disease
2. BThe white blood cells in healthy tissue
3. CMicroorganisms found only in sick patients
4. DBacteria that always cause mild infections

Which infection is a typical complication of broad-spectrum antibiotic use, causing severe diarrhoea?

1. AHepatitis A
2. BClostridioides difficile infection
3. CHelicobacter pylori infection
4. DSalmonella infection

Which type of immunity is given by breast milk antibodies?

1. AArtificial active immunity
2. BNatural passive immunity
3. CNatural active immunity
4. DArtificial passive immunity

Which organism causes tuberculosis, and what makes it hard to stain with the Gram method?

1. AMycoplasma pneumoniae, which has no cell wall to take up the stain
2. BLegionella pneumophila, which lives inside amoebae
3. CMycobacterium tuberculosis, which has a waxy mycolic acid wall
4. DStreptococcus pneumoniae, which has a capsule

Prions differ from all other infectious agents because they:

1. AContain no nucleic acid and consist of misfolded protein
2. BContain only RNA, with no protein coat surrounding the genome
3. CAre killed by normal cooking and disinfection
4. DCan only infect bacteria

Joseph Lister reduced infection after surgery in the 1860s. What was his main innovation?

1. AUsing carbolic acid (phenol) as an antiseptic on wounds and instruments
2. BGiving sulfonamide antibiotics after every operation
3. CUsing steam autoclaves to sterilise all surgical instruments before each operation
4. DVaccinating surgeons against staphylococci