ICM BACTERIOLGY

FLASHCARD SET 1: BACTERIAL PATHOGENS & DISEASES

Gram-Positive Bacteria

• Q: What Gram-positive cocci form clusters and cause skin infections and toxic shock?
  A: Staphylococcus aureus

• Q: What Gram-positive cocci form chains and cause strep throat and necrotizing fasciitis?
  A: Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Strep)

• Q: What Gram-positive diplococci cause pneumonia, otitis media, and meningitis?
  A: Streptococcus pneumoniae

• Q: What Gram-positive rod is spore-forming and causes antibiotic-associated diarrhea?
  A: Clostridium difficile

• Q: What Gram-positive rod causes diphtheria?
  A: Corynebacterium diphtheriae

Gram-Negative Bacteria

• Q: What Gram-negative rod is a common cause of UTIs and traveler’s diarrhea?
  A: Escherichia coli

• Q: What Gram-negative coccobacillus causes whooping cough?
  A: Bordetella pertussis

• Q: What Gram-negative diplococci cause meningitis and a characteristic purpuric rash?
  A: Neisseria meningitidis

• Q: What Gram-negative rod produces a blue-green pigment and infects burn wounds?
  A: Pseudomonas aeruginosa

• Q: What Gram-negative spiral-shaped bacteria cause peptic ulcers?
  A: Helicobacter pylori

FLASHCARD SET 2: VIRAL PATHOGENS & DISEASES

• Q: What virus causes AIDS, and what test is used for confirmation?
  A: HIV; Western Blot/PCR

• Q: What DNA virus causes cold sores and genital herpes?
  A: Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1, HSV-2)

• Q: What virus causes chickenpox and shingles?
  A: Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV)

• Q: What virus is the leading cause of bronchiolitis in infants?
  A: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

• Q: What viral infection is associated with cervical cancer?
  A: Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

• Q: What virus causes mononucleosis (glandular fever)?
  A: Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)

• Q: What virus is transmitted via Aedes mosquitoes and causes fever, rash, and joint pain?
  A: Dengue Virus

• Q: What virus caused the COVID-19 pandemic?
  A: SARS-CoV-2

FLASHCARD SET 3: LAB DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

• Q: What stain differentiates Gram-positive from Gram-negative bacteria?
  A: Gram stain

• Q: What test detects bacterial DNA or RNA with high sensitivity?
  A: PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)

• Q: What serology test detects past or current viral infections?
  A: ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay)

• Q: What is the gold standard test for bacterial meningitis?
  A: CSF culture and PCR

• Q: What test identifies bacteria based on their protein profile?
  A: MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry

• Q: What diagnostic test is used for tuberculosis (TB)?
  A: Acid-fast stain (Ziehl-Neelsen stain), PCR, or Mantoux test

FLASHCARD SET 4: ANTIBIOTICS & RESISTANCE

Antibiotic Mechanisms

• Q: How do beta-lactam antibiotics (penicillins, cephalosporins) work?
  A: Inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis

• Q: What is the mechanism of fluoroquinolones (e.g., ciprofloxacin)?
  A: Inhibit DNA gyrase (topoisomerase)

• Q: What antibiotic class targets the 30S ribosome to block protein synthesis?
  A: Aminoglycosides (e.g., Gentamicin)

• Q: What antibiotic is used to treat MRSA?
  A: Vancomycin

• Q: What bacteria are resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics due to beta-lactamase production?
  A: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae

Antibiotic Resistance Mechanisms

• Q: What enzyme allows bacteria to break down penicillins?
  A: Beta-lactamase

• Q: What gene confers vancomycin resistance in enterococci?
  A: VanA gene (Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, VRE)

• Q: What mechanism makes Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to rifampin?
  A: Mutation in RNA polymerase

FLASHCARD SET 5: CLINICAL CASE SCENARIOS

• Q: A patient presents with fever, cough, and rust-colored sputum. What is the most likely cause?
  A: Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumonia)

• Q: A college student develops fever, stiff neck, and a purpuric rash. What is the likely pathogen?
  A: Neisseria meningitidis (meningitis)

• Q: A burn patient has a wound infection with blue-green pus. What bacteria is likely involved?
  A: Pseudomonas aeruginosa

• Q: A traveler returning from Africa has cyclic fever spikes. What is the likely diagnosis?
  A: Malaria (Plasmodium falciparum)

• Q: A patient has watery diarrhea after taking antibiotics. What bacteria should be suspected?
  A: Clostridium difficile

• Q: A newborn has a fever and vesicular rash. The mother has a history of genital herpes. What virus is suspected?
  A: HSV-2 (Neonatal herpes)