Infectious Diseases Flashcards
7 cards from real Physician Assistant practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Infectious Diseases flashcards as text
An IV drug user has fever and a new murmur, and echocardiography shows a tricuspid valve vegetation. What is the most likely organism?
Answer: Staphylococcus aureus
S. aureus is the most common cause of endocarditis in people who inject drugs, and it often involves the tricuspid valve.
Blood cultures grow Streptococcus gallolyticus (formerly S. bovis) in a patient with endocarditis. What additional evaluation is indicated?
Answer: Colonoscopy
S. gallolyticus bacteremia is strongly associated with colorectal neoplasia, so colonoscopy is warranted.
What is the appropriate empiric antibiotic regimen for suspected bacterial meningitis in a 65-year-old?
Answer: Vancomycin, ceftriaxone, and ampicillin
Adults over 50 need ampicillin added for Listeria coverage on top of vancomycin plus a third-generation cephalosporin.
A patient from Arizona has a community-acquired pneumonia-like illness, erythema nodosum, and arthralgias. What is the most likely organism?
Answer: Coccidioides immitis
Coccidioidomycosis (valley fever) is endemic to the Southwest and often presents with pneumonia, erythema nodosum, and arthralgias ('desert rheumatism').
A diabetic patient has severe pain disproportionate to the exam, rapidly spreading erythema, crepitus, and hemodynamic instability. What is the most important next step?
Answer: Emergent surgical debridement plus broad-spectrum antibiotics
Necrotizing fasciitis is a surgical emergency, and imaging must not delay debridement and broad-spectrum IV antibiotics.
A patient develops profuse watery diarrhea after a course of clindamycin and tests positive for C. difficile toxin. What is the preferred first-line treatment for an initial nonsevere episode?
Answer: Oral fidaxomicin
Current IDSA guidelines prefer oral fidaxomicin, with oral vancomycin as an acceptable alternative, for an initial C. difficile episode.
A neutropenic leukemia patient has persistent fever on broad-spectrum antibiotics, and chest CT shows nodules with a surrounding 'halo sign.' What is the treatment of choice?
Answer: Voriconazole
The halo sign in a neutropenic patient suggests invasive aspergillosis, for which voriconazole is first-line.
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