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Medical Microbiology Flashcards

7 cards from real ABPATH practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Medical Microbiology flashcards as text

  1. A catalase-positive, coagulase-positive gram-positive cocci in clusters is isolated from a wound. Which organism is most likely?

    Answer: Staphylococcus aureus

    S. aureus is catalase-positive and coagulase-positive, distinguishing it from other staphylococci.

  2. Which stain is used to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum?

    Answer: Ziehl-Neelsen (acid-fast)

    Acid-fast staining detects mycolic acid in the mycobacterial cell wall.

  3. A patient with meningitis has CSF showing gram-negative diplococci. Which organism is most likely?

    Answer: Neisseria meningitidis

    N. meningitidis appears as gram-negative diplococci and is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis.

  4. Which fungus is identified by broad, ribbon-like, aseptate hyphae with wide-angle branching?

    Answer: Mucor (Zygomycetes)

    Mucormycosis shows broad aseptate hyphae branching at wide (~90°) angles.

  5. Which test differentiates Streptococcus pneumoniae from viridans streptococci?

    Answer: Optochin sensitivity

    S. pneumoniae is optochin-sensitive whereas viridans streptococci are resistant.

  6. A febrile patient returning from sub-Saharan Africa has ring forms and banana-shaped gametocytes on blood smear. Diagnosis?

    Answer: Plasmodium falciparum

    Crescent/banana-shaped gametocytes are characteristic of P. falciparum.

  7. Which virus is most commonly associated with cervical cancer?

    Answer: Human papillomavirus (HPV)

    High-risk HPV types 16 and 18 are the primary cause of cervical carcinoma.