Microbiology worksheet with answers

Free printable Microbiology worksheet: 8 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy

Which of these is usually the smallest?

  1. AA bacterium
  2. BA red blood cell
  3. CA virus
  4. DA yeast cell
2.Easy

Which bacterium is the most common cause of urinary tract infections?

  1. AStaphylococcus aureus
  2. BMycobacterium tuberculosis
  3. CEscherichia coli
  4. DStreptococcus pyogenes
3.Easy

Tapeworms and roundworms are examples of:

  1. AHelminths
  2. BFungi
  3. CPrions
  4. DProtozoa
4.Medium

MRSA is resistant to methicillin because it has:

  1. AAn altered penicillin-binding protein (PBP2a)
  2. BA polysaccharide capsule that blocks the entry of all beta-lactams
  3. CAn efflux pump for every antibiotic
  4. DNo cell wall at all
5.Medium

Toxoplasma gondii is a risk in pregnancy. Which advice reduces exposure?

  1. AAvoid swimming pools and all other public bathing areas
  2. BAvoid contact with dogs
  3. CAvoid cleaning cat litter and avoid undercooked meat
  4. DAvoid all fruit and vegetables
6.Medium

Why does high vaccination coverage also protect babies too young to be vaccinated?

  1. ABabies are naturally immune to all vaccine-preventable diseases
  2. BFewer people can pass on the infection, so it spreads less
  3. CVaccinated people pass antibodies to everyone they meet
  4. DVaccines kill the pathogen in the environment
7.Hard

A child develops bloody diarrhoea after eating an undercooked burger, then a week later has kidney failure, anaemia and a low platelet count. Which organism is most likely?

  1. AClostridium perfringens
  2. BStaphylococcus aureus
  3. CShiga toxin-producing E. coli such as O157:H7
  4. DRotavirus
8.Hard

In the 1840s Ignaz Semmelweis lowered deaths from puerperal fever in a Vienna maternity clinic. What did he introduce?

  1. AVaccination of all mothers before birth
  2. BHandwashing with chlorinated lime before examining women
  3. CTreating mothers with penicillin
  4. DKeeping mothers in separate isolation rooms after delivery

Answer key

  1. 1. C · A virus
  2. 2. C · Escherichia coli
  3. 3. A · Helminths
  4. 4. A · An altered penicillin-binding protein (PBP2a)
  5. 5. C · Avoid cleaning cat litter and avoid undercooked meat
  6. 6. B · Fewer people can pass on the infection, so it spreads less
  7. 7. C · Shiga toxin-producing E. coli such as O157:H7
  8. 8. B · Handwashing with chlorinated lime before examining women

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