PLE Category: Microbiology

PLE-3259

A previously healthy 3-month-old girl is brought to the emergency department because of a 3-day history of grunting and increasing difficulty breathing. She appears ill. Her temperature is 36.7 C (98 F), pulse is 160/min, and respirations are 76/min. Examination shows grunting, nasal flaring, and marked intercostal retractions. Bronchial breath sounds and occasional bilateral crackles are heard on auscultation. An x-ray film of the chest shows bilateral, diffuse interstitial infiltrates and absence of the thymic shadow. Bronchoalveolar lavage is positive for numerous Pneumocystis carinii. What is the most likely mechanism of these findings?

PLE-3260

A previously healthy 24-year-old woman comes to the physician because of a low-grade fever and a nonproductive cough for 7 days. She has been able to continue her daily activities. Her temperature is 37.7 C (99.9 F). A few scattered inspiratory crackles are heard in the thorax. An x-ray film of the chest shows patchy infiltrates in both lungs. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial pharmacotherapy?

PLE-3255

Toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 is to Staphylococcus as which toxin is to Streptococcus?

PLE-3256

Which of the following bacteria is not properly matched with its respective culture medium?

PLE-3257

Luigi, a 24-year-old carpenter, came into your clinic because of severe pain in his right foot. The condition started 3 weeks ago when he accidentally stepped on a nail at their construction site. He did not develop a fever, but the wound became infected, and he can hardly walk due to the pain. He has already received his 3rd dose of tetanus toxoid at age 18. What should you give him now?

PLE-3252

A 39-year-old man was rushed to the hospital because of decreasing sensorium. His condition started with fever and headache, which didn’t improve with Paracetamol. The condition progressively worsened with the development of photophobia and decreasing sensorium. At the ER, the patient was still febrile with a GCS of 5, and positive Brudzinski and Kernig’s signs were observed. Petechial rashes were noted on both lower extremities. As the medical intern who intubated the patient, which of the following prophylactic managements should you do?

PLE-3253

Which of the following diseases is blood-borne?

PLE-3254

What is the intermediate host in paragonimiasis?

PLE-3248

A patient presents with difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, and wheezing. There is marked eosinophilia on blood exam. Is his allergic reaction most likely due to the spores of?

PLE-3249

Ian, an Ilocano, is fond of eating raw snails. He is at risk of acquiring which parasite?