Physician Assistant Infectious Diseases

Question 1

A patient has fever, productive cough and lobar consolidation. Which organism is the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia?

Accepted Answer

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Answer

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia in adults.

Question 2

Which is the recommended treatment for uncomplicated gonorrhea?

Accepted Answer

Ceftriaxone intramuscularly

Answer

Current CDC guidance recommends a single dose of intramuscular ceftriaxone for uncomplicated gonorrhea, and doxycycline is added if chlamydia has not been excluded.

Question 3

A hiker has an expanding erythematous rash with central clearing, fatigue and arthralgias after a tick bite in the Northeast. What is the best treatment?

Accepted Answer

Doxycycline

Answer

This is early Lyme disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi (erythema migrans). Doxycycline for 10 days is first-line for adults.

Question 4

A patient with HIV has a CD4 count of 150 cells/mm³. Which prophylaxis should be started?

Accepted Answer

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole

Answer

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia prophylaxis with TMP-SMX is indicated when the CD4 count falls below 200 cells/mm³.

Question 5

Which test is the most appropriate to confirm active Clostridioides difficile infection in a patient with watery diarrhea after antibiotic use?

Accepted Answer

Stool toxin or PCR testing for C. difficile

Answer

Diagnosis rests on stool testing for toxin and/or the toxin gene by PCR in a patient with unformed stools. First-line treatment is oral fidaxomicin or vancomycin.

Physician Assistant Practice Test

Physician Assistant Practice Test

Physician Assistant Infectious Diseases