Bacteriology: practice question

A Microbiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Microbiology · Bacteriology

Sample item

What bacteria commonly cause pseudomembranous colitis after antibiotics?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Clostridioides difficile

Antibiotic disruption of normal colonic flora can permit Clostridioides difficile overgrowth and toxin-mediated pseudomembranous colitis.

Option by option

  • A. Staphylococcus aureus

    S. aureus causes many skin and invasive infections but is not the usual cause here.

  • B. Escherichia coli

    E. coli has many syndromes but is not the classic antibiotic-associated colitis organism.

  • C. Mycobacterium tuberculosis

    M. tuberculosis does not cause pseudomembranous colitis after antibiotics.

  • D. Clostridioides difficile (correct)

    Correct: C. difficile toxins cause antibiotic-associated colitis.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Microbiology questions

Questions about this Microbiology question

What is the answer to this Microbiology question?

The best answer is D, Clostridioides difficile. Antibiotic disruption of normal colonic flora can permit Clostridioides difficile overgrowth and toxin-mediated pseudomembranous colitis.

Why is "Staphylococcus aureus" not the answer?

S. aureus causes many skin and invasive infections but is not the usual cause here.

Why is "Escherichia coli" not the answer?

E. coli has many syndromes but is not the classic antibiotic-associated colitis organism.

Why is "Mycobacterium tuberculosis" not the answer?

M. tuberculosis does not cause pseudomembranous colitis after antibiotics.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Bacteriology in Microbiology. The correct option holds because: Correct: C. difficile toxins cause antibiotic-associated colitis.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Bacteriology?

Make a one-line identity card for each organism: shape and stain, defining test, toxin, disease and drug. Then use the flashcards and the other Microbiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.