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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.

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  1. Which agar selectively isolates Neisseria gonorrhoeae from genital specimens?

    Answer: Thayer-Martin agar

    Modified Thayer-Martin agar contains antibiotics that select for pathogenic Neisseria.

  2. Which organism causes watery diarrhea via a toxin that activates adenylate cyclase, seen in rice-water stools?

    Answer: Vibrio cholerae

    Cholera toxin permanently activates Gs, raising cAMP and causing massive fluid secretion.

  3. Which viral inclusion body ('owl's eye') is characteristic of cytomegalovirus infection?

    Answer: Intranuclear owl's-eye inclusions

    CMV produces large cells with intranuclear owl's-eye inclusions.

  4. Which bacterium causes whooping cough and is cultured on Bordet-Gengou or Regan-Lowe media?

    Answer: Bordetella pertussis

    B. pertussis requires specialized Bordet-Gengou or Regan-Lowe media for isolation.

  5. Which protozoan causes profuse watery diarrhea in AIDS patients and stains acid-fast in stool?

    Answer: Cryptosporidium parvum

    Cryptosporidium oocysts are acid-fast and cause chronic diarrhea in immunocompromised patients.

  6. Which bacterium requires cysteine and iron (BCYE agar) and is diagnosed by urine antigen test?

    Answer: Legionella pneumophila

    Legionella grows on charcoal yeast extract (BCYE) agar and is detected by urinary antigen.

  7. Which mechanism explains vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus (VRE)?

    Answer: D-Ala-D-Ala changed to D-Ala-D-Lac

    VRE alters the peptidoglycan terminus to D-Ala-D-Lac, reducing vancomycin binding.