1|Page
Jersey College – Microbiology Final
Exam (2026) | Verified Questions &
Complete Solutions with Rationales
Document Description:
Subject: Microbiology
Source: Jersey College
Format: Key Concepts, Definitions, and Practice Questions with Verified
Solutions
1. What are the symptoms of endocarditis?
A. Fatigue and weakness, fever and chills, night sweats, weight loss, muscle
and joint pain, shortness of breath, blood in urine, abnormal urine color,
red painless skin spots on palms and soles, red painful nodes on fingers and
toes, nail abnormalities.
, 2|Page
Rationale: Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of the heart
chambers and valves. Symptoms arise from systemic inflammation,
immune complex deposition, and embolic events, which explain the diverse
clinical presentation involving fever, malaise, skin findings, and renal
involvement.
2. All of the following are symptoms of endocarditis except:
A. Leg swelling.
Rationale: While endocarditis can cause systemic symptoms and
embolic phenomena, peripheral edema (leg swelling) is not a typical direct
symptom. It is more characteristic of heart failure or venous insufficiency.
3. What is septicemia?
A. A systemic infection in which microorganisms multiply in the
bloodstream.
Rationale: Septicemia refers to the presence and multiplication of
pathogenic microorganisms in the blood, leading to a systemic
inflammatory response.
, 3|Page
4. The toxic condition caused by the multiplication of bacteria in
the bloodstream is referred to as:
A. Septicemia.
Rationale: Septicemia specifically denotes bacteremia with clinical
signs of systemic infection and toxicity.
5. What is microbemia?
A. A term used to describe infections caused by microorganisms that enter
the circulatory system through lymphatic drainage.
Rationale: Microbemia refers to the presence of microbes in the blood
following lymphatic spread, distinct from direct bloodstream invasion.
6. When microorganisms enter the circulatory system through
lymphatic drainage and cause an infection, the condition is called:
A. Microbemia.
Rationale: This definition aligns with the pathway of infection via
lymphatic vessels leading to bloodstream involvement.
7. Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease and rare
complication due to:
A. Strep throat.
, 4|Page
Rationale: Rheumatic fever is a post-streptococcal autoimmune
sequelae of Group A streptococcal pharyngitis, affecting the heart, joints,
and other tissues.
8. What are zoonotic diseases?
A. Diseases humans acquire from animals; an example is rabies.
Rationale: Zoonotic diseases are infections transmitted naturally
between vertebrate animals and humans, with rabies being a classic
example.
9. All of the following are considered to be zoonotic diseases
except:
A. The plague.
Rationale: This appears contradictory, as plague (Yersinia pestis) is a
known zoonosis. The answer likely indicates a misprint; typically, non-
zoonotic examples would include human-restricted pathogens like measles.
10. “Rabbit Fever” is a zoonotic disease caused by:
A. Francisella tularensis.
Rationale: Tularemia, or “rabbit fever,” is caused by Francisella
tularensis, transmitted from rabbits, ticks, or other animals.
Jersey College – Microbiology Final
Exam (2026) | Verified Questions &
Complete Solutions with Rationales
Document Description:
Subject: Microbiology
Source: Jersey College
Format: Key Concepts, Definitions, and Practice Questions with Verified
Solutions
1. What are the symptoms of endocarditis?
A. Fatigue and weakness, fever and chills, night sweats, weight loss, muscle
and joint pain, shortness of breath, blood in urine, abnormal urine color,
red painless skin spots on palms and soles, red painful nodes on fingers and
toes, nail abnormalities.
, 2|Page
Rationale: Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of the heart
chambers and valves. Symptoms arise from systemic inflammation,
immune complex deposition, and embolic events, which explain the diverse
clinical presentation involving fever, malaise, skin findings, and renal
involvement.
2. All of the following are symptoms of endocarditis except:
A. Leg swelling.
Rationale: While endocarditis can cause systemic symptoms and
embolic phenomena, peripheral edema (leg swelling) is not a typical direct
symptom. It is more characteristic of heart failure or venous insufficiency.
3. What is septicemia?
A. A systemic infection in which microorganisms multiply in the
bloodstream.
Rationale: Septicemia refers to the presence and multiplication of
pathogenic microorganisms in the blood, leading to a systemic
inflammatory response.
, 3|Page
4. The toxic condition caused by the multiplication of bacteria in
the bloodstream is referred to as:
A. Septicemia.
Rationale: Septicemia specifically denotes bacteremia with clinical
signs of systemic infection and toxicity.
5. What is microbemia?
A. A term used to describe infections caused by microorganisms that enter
the circulatory system through lymphatic drainage.
Rationale: Microbemia refers to the presence of microbes in the blood
following lymphatic spread, distinct from direct bloodstream invasion.
6. When microorganisms enter the circulatory system through
lymphatic drainage and cause an infection, the condition is called:
A. Microbemia.
Rationale: This definition aligns with the pathway of infection via
lymphatic vessels leading to bloodstream involvement.
7. Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease and rare
complication due to:
A. Strep throat.
, 4|Page
Rationale: Rheumatic fever is a post-streptococcal autoimmune
sequelae of Group A streptococcal pharyngitis, affecting the heart, joints,
and other tissues.
8. What are zoonotic diseases?
A. Diseases humans acquire from animals; an example is rabies.
Rationale: Zoonotic diseases are infections transmitted naturally
between vertebrate animals and humans, with rabies being a classic
example.
9. All of the following are considered to be zoonotic diseases
except:
A. The plague.
Rationale: This appears contradictory, as plague (Yersinia pestis) is a
known zoonosis. The answer likely indicates a misprint; typically, non-
zoonotic examples would include human-restricted pathogens like measles.
10. “Rabbit Fever” is a zoonotic disease caused by:
A. Francisella tularensis.
Rationale: Tularemia, or “rabbit fever,” is caused by Francisella
tularensis, transmitted from rabbits, ticks, or other animals.
