Question 1

The blood-brain barrier

Accepted Answer

A) prevents the passage of all substances. 
B) prevents the passage of lipid soluble substances. 
C) is the innermost meningeal membrane. 
D) is comprised of tightly joined endothelial cells in capillaries. 
E) is responsible for the production of cerebrospinal fluid. 
A) prevents the passage of all substances. 
B) prevents the passage of lipid soluble substances. 
C) is the innermost meningeal membrane. 
D) is comprised of tightly joined endothelial cells in capillaries. 
E) is responsible for the production of cerebrospinal fluid. D

Question 2

Which of the following statements concerning the pneumococcus is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A) Pneumococcus can be carried in the throat of healthy people. 
B) Pneumococcal meningitis may follow otitis media. 
C) Pneumococcal meningitis can occur following skull fracture. 
D) Pneumococcus only causes meningitis in young babies. 
E) A vaccine is available to protect against pneumococcal infections. 
A) Pneumococcus can be carried in the throat of healthy people. 
B) Pneumococcal meningitis may follow otitis media. 
C) Pneumococcal meningitis can occur following skull fracture. 
D) Pneumococcus only causes meningitis in young babies. 
E) A vaccine is available to protect against pneumococcal infections. D

Question 3

Meningococcal septicaemia is

Accepted Answer

A) resistant to most antibiotics. 
B) characterised by a haemorrhagic skin rash. 
C) not as serious as meningococcal meningitis. 
D) due to the actions of a potent exotoxin. 
E) all of the above. 
A) resistant to most antibiotics. 
B) characterised by a haemorrhagic skin rash. 
C) not as serious as meningococcal meningitis. 
D) due to the actions of a potent exotoxin. 
E) all of the above. B

Question 4

Which of the following statements about rabies is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A) It is an encephalitis caused by a Lyssavirus. 
B) It is primarily a disease of warm-blooded animals. 
C) The usual incubation period is at least one month. 
D) It can be acquired from a variety of animals,including bats and monkeys. 
E) None of the above. 
A) It is an encephalitis caused by a Lyssavirus. 
B) It is primarily a disease of warm-blooded animals. 
C) The usual incubation period is at least one month. 
D) It can be acquired from a variety of animals,including bats and monkeys. 
E) None of the above.

Question 5

Leprosy

Accepted Answer

A) is a highly contagious disease. 
B) does not occur in Australia. 
C) has a long incubation period of two years or more. 
D) is usually transmitted via skin-to-skin contact. 
E) all of the above. 
A) is a highly contagious disease. 
B) does not occur in Australia. 
C) has a long incubation period of two years or more. 
D) is usually transmitted via skin-to-skin contact. 
E) all of the above.

Question 6

Which of the following is used to smooth wrinkles in facial muscles?

Accepted Answer

A) Botulinum neurotoxin A. 
B) Botulinum musculospasmin. 
C) Staphylococcus aureus neurotoxin. 
D) Tetanospasmin toxin. 
E) Tetanus neurotoxin. 
A) Botulinum neurotoxin A. 
B) Botulinum musculospasmin. 
C) Staphylococcus aureus neurotoxin. 
D) Tetanospasmin toxin. 
E) Tetanus neurotoxin.

Question 7

The Sabin vaccine for polio

Accepted Answer

A) contains the poliovirus toxin. 
B) is administered by intramuscular injection. 
C) can cause autism on rare occasions. 
D) is not currently used in Australia. 
E) all of the above. 
A) contains the poliovirus toxin. 
B) is administered by intramuscular injection. 
C) can cause autism on rare occasions. 
D) is not currently used in Australia. 
E) all of the above.

Question 8

Infant botulism

Accepted Answer

A) is often associated with the consumption of honey. 
B) occurs because the child has an undeveloped specific immune system. 
C) is caused by Mycobacterium botulinum. 
D) requires urgent treatment with a broad spectrum antibiotic. 
E) all of the above. 
A) is often associated with the consumption of honey. 
B) occurs because the child has an undeveloped specific immune system. 
C) is caused by Mycobacterium botulinum. 
D) requires urgent treatment with a broad spectrum antibiotic. 
E) all of the above.

Question 9

Cryptococcal meningitis may be rapidly diagnosed by

Accepted Answer

A) microscopic examination of a blood film. 
B) estimation of protein and glucose concentrations in the CSF. 
C) India ink stain of a centrifuged deposit of CSF. 
D) culture of a purulent sputum specimen. 
E) microscopic examination of a throat swab. 
A) microscopic examination of a blood film. 
B) estimation of protein and glucose concentrations in the CSF. 
C) India ink stain of a centrifuged deposit of CSF. 
D) culture of a purulent sputum specimen. 
E) microscopic examination of a throat swab.

Question 10

A person immunised with three doses of tetanus toxoid seven years ago suffers a severe gash with a pruning tool while gardening.He should receive

Accepted Answer

A) tetanus toxoid. 
B) tetanus immunoglobulin. 
C) penicillin. 
D) gammaglobulin. 
E) nothing because he is immune. 
A) tetanus toxoid. 
B) tetanus immunoglobulin. 
C) penicillin. 
D) gammaglobulin. 
E) nothing because he is immune.

Question 11

A transmissible spongiform encephalopathy

Accepted Answer

A) is exemplified by kuru. 
B) only affects humans. 
C) is caused by an infectious nucleic acid. 
D) is rarely fatal. 
E) all of the above. 
A) is exemplified by kuru. 
B) only affects humans. 
C) is caused by an infectious nucleic acid. 
D) is rarely fatal. 
E) all of the above.

Question 12

Japanese encephalitis

Accepted Answer

A) only occurs in Japan. 
B) is often successfully treated with aciclovir. 
C) virus is found in wading birds and pigs. 
D) cannot be prevented by vaccination. 
E) has close to a 100% fatality rate. 
A) only occurs in Japan. 
B) is often successfully treated with aciclovir. 
C) virus is found in wading birds and pigs. 
D) cannot be prevented by vaccination. 
E) has close to a 100% fatality rate.

Question 13

In acute bacterial meningitis

Accepted Answer

A) the causative organism may initially colonise the nasopharynx. 
B) bacterial invasion of the bloodstream often occurs. 
C) the inflammatory response is partly responsible for the symptoms. 
D) many of the pathogens have an anti-phagocytic capsule. 
E) all of the above. 
A) the causative organism may initially colonise the nasopharynx. 
B) bacterial invasion of the bloodstream often occurs. 
C) the inflammatory response is partly responsible for the symptoms. 
D) many of the pathogens have an anti-phagocytic capsule. 
E) all of the above.

Question 14

A man presents at the emergency department after puncturing his foot on an old nail.Upon questioning,he is uncertain as to whether he has been immunised against tetanus.This man should be

Accepted Answer

A) given tetanus toxoid and sent home. 
B) kept in for observation for 24 hours to see if symptoms develop. 
C) given tetanus immunoglobulin and tetanus toxoid. 
D) advised to start a course of vaccination as soon as possible. 
E) given a broad spectrum antibiotic. 
A) given tetanus toxoid and sent home. 
B) kept in for observation for 24 hours to see if symptoms develop. 
C) given tetanus immunoglobulin and tetanus toxoid. 
D) advised to start a course of vaccination as soon as possible. 
E) given a broad spectrum antibiotic.

Question 15

Which of the following tests on a CSF specimen would NOT be useful in the diagnosis of meningitis?

Accepted Answer

A) Culture on agar plates. 
B) Microscopic examination for host cell types. 
C) Gram stain and microscopy. 
D) Electron microscopy. 
E) Glucose concentration. 
A) Culture on agar plates. 
B) Microscopic examination for host cell types. 
C) Gram stain and microscopy. 
D) Electron microscopy. 
E) Glucose concentration.

Question 16

Viral meningitis is

Accepted Answer

A) more severe than bacterial meningitis. 
B) often caused by enteroviruses. 
C) characterised by a lack of white cells in the CSF. 
D) less common than bacterial meningitis. 
E) effectively treated with ceftriaxone. 
A) more severe than bacterial meningitis. 
B) often caused by enteroviruses. 
C) characterised by a lack of white cells in the CSF. 
D) less common than bacterial meningitis. 
E) effectively treated with ceftriaxone.

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT transmitted by mosquitoes?

Accepted Answer

A) Murray valley encephalitis. 
B) Japanese encephalitis. 
C) Herpes encephalitis. 
D) West Nile virus infection. 
E) Kunjin virus infection. 
A) Murray valley encephalitis. 
B) Japanese encephalitis. 
C) Herpes encephalitis. 
D) West Nile virus infection. 
E) Kunjin virus infection.

Question 18

The term 'aseptic meningitis' usually refers to

Accepted Answer

A) any non-bacterial meningitis. 
B) a meningitis following neurosurgery. 
C) a viral meningitis. 
D) an infection of the inner parts of the brain. 
E) meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis. 
A) any non-bacterial meningitis. 
B) a meningitis following neurosurgery. 
C) a viral meningitis. 
D) an infection of the inner parts of the brain. 
E) meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis.

Question 19

The most common route of infection in meningitis is

Accepted Answer

A) via peripheral nerves. 
B) via the bloodstream. 
C) via the paranasal sinuses. 
D) from the ears. 
E) through the skin. 
A) via peripheral nerves. 
B) via the bloodstream. 
C) via the paranasal sinuses. 
D) from the ears. 
E) through the skin.

Question 20

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A) Polio is a disease which dates back to ancient Egyptian times. 
B) Poliovirus is only found in humans. 
C) A vaccine for polio has been available since the 1950s. 
D) Poliovirus is transmitted by faecally contaminated food,water or hands. 
E) All of the above. 
A) Polio is a disease which dates back to ancient Egyptian times. 
B) Poliovirus is only found in humans. 
C) A vaccine for polio has been available since the 1950s. 
D) Poliovirus is transmitted by faecally contaminated food,water or hands. 
E) All of the above.

Exam 20: Infections of the Nervous System

The blood-brain barrier

Which of the following statements concerning the pneumococcus is FALSE?

Meningococcal septicaemia is

Which of the following statements about rabies is FALSE?

Leprosy

Which of the following is used to smooth wrinkles in facial muscles?

The Sabin vaccine for polio

Infant botulism

Cryptococcal meningitis may be rapidly diagnosed by

A person immunised with three doses of tetanus toxoid seven years ago suffers a severe gash with a pruning tool while gardening.He should receive

A transmissible spongiform encephalopathy

Japanese encephalitis

In acute bacterial meningitis

A man presents at the emergency department after puncturing his foot on an old nail.Upon questioning,he is uncertain as to whether he has been immunised against tetanus.This man should be

Which of the following tests on a CSF specimen would NOT be useful in the diagnosis of meningitis?

Viral meningitis is

Which of the following is NOT transmitted by mosquitoes?

The term 'aseptic meningitis' usually refers to

The most common route of infection in meningitis is

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

The Invisible World

Biological Reactions in Microbial Cells

Bacteria

Genes and Biotechnology

Viruses and Viral Diseases

Eucaryotic Microorganisms: Fungi, protozoa and Multicellular Organisms

Hostmicrobe Interactions and Principles of Disease

Epidemiology: How Diseases Are Spread

The Bodys Defence Systems

Pathogenic Mechanisms and Evasion Strategies of Microorganisms

Principles of Sterilisation and Disinfection

Antimicrobial Therapy

Infection Control in Healthcare Facilities

Issues in Public Health

Microbial Techniques for Diagnosis of Infection

Skin, wound and Eye Infections

Respiratory Tract Infections

Gastrointestinal Tract Infections

Cardiovascular and Multisystem Infections

Infections of the Urinary and Reproductive Systems

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