BSL3 Pathogens

A tech is working on a culture from an aspirated lesion. The culture grows non-hemolytic colonies with flattened edges and raised centers, resembling a fried egg on blood agar. Gram stain of the colonies shows plump Gram-negative bacilli with bipolar staining. What is the likely identification of the organism?

Yersinia pestis

What biosafety level (BSL) is required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for working with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, if there is a possibility that aerosols might be released?

BSL-3

From the following organisms, which one is considered to be the LEAST pathogenic to humans?

Corynebacterium ulcerans

All of the following agents can be handled using biosafety level 2 practices, EXCEPT:

Marburg virus

Which of the following statements is TRUE with regard to the agents of bioterrorism?

At least a class II biological safety cabinet (BSC) should be used.

A Gram negative rod exhibiting bipolar staining was isolated from sheep blood agar after 24 hours of incubation. OxidaseNegativeUreaseNegativeCatalasePositiveIndoleNegative Which of the following species is most probable?

Yersinia pestis

It is important to make a presumptive identification of the large, flat, spreading, gray-white, non-hemolytic colonies, with comma-like extensions growing on blood agar, as illustrated in the upper photograph. When mucoid colonies are observed, peak-like extensions may be observed when the colony is lifted with an inoculating loop (lower left image in the composite). Long, spore-bearing, Gram positive bacilli, often in straight and branching chains, are observed on Gram stain. Based on the results given, select the presumptive identification of this isolate.

Bacillus anthracis

Match the Gram-stained image to the organism it MOST closely represents.

Bacillus anthracis

The tech working on an aerobic wound culture is identifying a colony that is large, gray, and non-hemolytic on blood agar. The tech prepares a Gram stain of the colony and notices a consistency similar to whisked egg whites. Gram stain reveals a large Gram-positive bacillus. What is the most likely identification of this colony?

Bacillus anthracis

Which of the following organisms would give the gram stain microscopic results seen in this image? spores

Bacillus anthracis

The tech in microbiology receives a call from the ER where the doctor suspects a patient has GI anthrax. What should the tech indicate is a proper specimen for collection to detect GI anthrax?

Blood

The tech in microbiology receives a call from the ER where the doctor suspects a patient has inhalation anthrax. What should the tech indicate is a proper specimen for collection to detect inhalation anthrax?

Blood

A tiny Gram negative coccobacilli was isolated on chocolate agar from a wound on a man who had been hunting wild boar. The microbiologist performed the following test: OxidasePositiveUreasePositiveMotilityNonmotileColony morphologySmall, nonhemolytic Which of the following species is most probable?

Brucella species

Which is the most commonly reported organism in cases of laboratory-acquired bacterial infection?

Brucella species

What organism produced outside a bioterrorism event causes glanders disease?

Burkholderia mallei

A tech is working with a small Gram-negative coccobacillus that may be Francisella tularensis. Which of the following tests could the tech use to rule out this organism?

Catalase negative

Which of the the following bioterrorism agent categories is the easiest to spread, has the ability to cause major harm, panic, and death, and carries the highest level of risk with regard to national security?

Category A

At a minimum, the following class of biological safety cabinet (BSC) must be used when manipulating potential bioterrorism agents and if aerosols are likely:

Class II BSC

Which of the following Clostridium spp. produces a toxin that is a potential bioweapon?

Clostridium botulinum

The Laboratory Response Network (LRN) consists of all of the following except:

Department of Defense (DOD)

All of the following are functions of the Laboratory Response Network (LRN), EXCEPT?

Eliminate bioterrorism

Agar plates on a positive blood culture are incubated for 48 hours and no growth is visible on the agar plates. The tech reviews the initial Gram stain from the blood culture bottle, which reveals tiny pleomorphic Gram-negative coccobacilli. What organism should the tech suspect and what should the tech do next?

Francisella tularensis; Sub blood culture bottle to a media with cysteine for optimal growth

An occupation or avocation that should be avoided to prevent infection with Francisella tularensis is:

Hunting and skinning small game

Which of the following anthrax infections is also known as "woolsorter's disease"?

Inhalation anthrax

All of the following are roles of a sentinel microbiology laboratory, EXCEPT?

Make the determination that a bioterrorist event has occurred

A tech is working with a large, spore-forming, Gram-positive bacillus that they believe is Bacillus spp. Which of the following tests could the tech use to ensure this organism is not Bacillus anthracis?

Motility positive

Which organisms/conditions would be classified as Biosafety Level 3 agents?

Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Coxiella burnetti

Specimen handling from patients with symptoms consistent with tularemia requires work in a biological safety cabinet. Although PCR may confirm infection with Francisella tularensis, the following culture characteristics and tests aid in presumptive identification:

No growth on MAC, slow growth on CHOC; oxidase negative, positive catalase and ß-lactamase

What is one of the BIGGEST challenges with isolating Francisella?

Organism growth is slow.

A wound specimen was received into the laboratory and a large Gram positive rod was isolated. The microbiologist suspected the isolate was a probable Bacillus anthracis and had to rule in/out before reporting. All of the following tests must be performed before calling the species Bacillus anthracis EXCEPT?

Oxidase

A tech is working with a small Gram-negative coccobacillus that may be Burkholderia pseudomallei. Which of the following tests could the tech use to rule out this organism?

Oxidase negative

All of the following organisms are considered select agents for a bioterrorism event, EXCEPT?

Parasites

All of the following are responsibilities of sentinel laboratories within the Laboratory Response Network (LRN), EXCEPT:

Perform full identification and susceptibility on all potential bioterrorism agents.

The tech in microbiology receives a call from the outpatient center where the doctor wants to test a patient's wound to determine if is caused by cutaneous anthrax. What should the tech indicate is a proper specimen for collection to detect cutaneous anthrax?

Swab under edge of skin lesion

Who should a technologist contact if an organism is isolated that cannot be ruled out as a potential agent of bioterrorism?

The Laboratory Response Network (LRN) reference laboratory

What is the role of a sentinel laboratory within the Laboratory Response Network (LRN)?

To rule-out critical biological agents or to refer them to a Laboratory Response Network (LRN) reference laboratory

A tech is working with a small, Gram-negative coccobacillus that may be Brucella spp. Which of the following tests could the tech use to rule out this organism?

Urease negative

A tech is working with a plump, bipolar staining, Gram-negative bacillus that may be Yersinia pestis. Which of the following tests could the tech use to rule out this organism?

Urease positive

What is the role of a sentinel laboratory within the Laboratory Response Network (LRN)?

Use standardized testing protocols to rule-out critical biological agents or refer them to one of the LRN reference laboratories for identification

What organism has a toxin that, when released, causes profuse, watery diarrhea?

Vibrio cholerae