Infectious Diseases Practice Questions Answers Updated

1) Which of the following medications is commonly used in conjunction with peginterferon for treatment of chronic hepatitis C?

2) Which of the following medications is commonly administered for the prevention of tuberculosis?

3) A 37-year-old male patient is found to have osteomyelitis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Which of the following medications is appropriate for treating this condition?

4) A 75-year-old woman with multi-infarct dementia presents to the emergency room with her daughter. Her daughter complains that the patient has been more confused over the past three days and is becoming increasingly disoriented. She also suffers from frequent urinary tract infections and was treated for one a month ago with three days of antibiotics. The patient is uncooperative and combative on examination. What is the most likely diagnosis?

5) A 65-year-old female presents to her PCP with the complaint of a painful rash along her left flank. She notes that she had a tingling and uncomfortable sensation in the area for a couple of days before the onset of the rash. She denies any medication changes and has otherwise felt well. Examination reveals a vesicular erythematous rash along the left flank. The right side of the trunk is unaffected. What is the most likely diagnosis?

6) A 19-year-old female presents to the emergency room with severe headache, fever, and vomiting, which her mother reports started suddenly “like the flu.” Examination reveals drowsiness and confusion. An electroencephalograph (EEG) shows sharp waves in both of the temporal lobes. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) reveals elevated protein and white blood cells with normal glucose. The patient is diagnosed with encephalitis. Which of the following is the most likely organism causing her condition?

7) Which of the following is the main etiology for genital herpes?

8) Which of the following is the preferred current medication of choice for the treatment of gonorrhea?

9) Which of the following medications is an appropriate treatment for an empyema (infected pleural effusion)?

10) Lyme disease is a spirochetal infection caused by which of the following bacteria?

11) Sildenafil is commonly used to treat which of the following disorders?

12) Which of the following medications is NOT an effective treatment for shigellosis?

13) A 35-year-old male presents to the emergency room with a headache that has occurred daily for three weeks. He reports a similar episode last year. The pain is severe (9/10), retro-orbital, and unilateral. Examination reveals conjunctival erythema, lacrimation, and ptosis of the right eye. What is the most likely diagnosis?

14) (Revisited) To identify Treponema pallidum (the syphilis spirochete), the most appropriate diagnostic examination is:

15) A 35-year-old HIV-positive male who has been non-compliant with his treatment regimen presents to the emergency room with the complaint of dyspnea, fatigue, fever, and a non-productive cough. Chest X-ray is normal. What is the most likely diagnosis?

16) A 2-year-old presents to her PCP with meningitis. What is the most likely bacterial etiology?

17) Giardiasis is commonly treated by which of the following medications?

18) Analysis of a stool sample is helpful to accurately confirm the diagnosis of which of the following?

19) An 80-year-old female presents to her PCP with a complaint of sore throat and painful tongue. Examination reveals a white coating on the tongue and soft palate that scrapes off easily, revealing erythema. What is the most likely diagnosis?

20) A patient presents to his PCP with suspected peripheral arterial disease (PAD). After a thorough physical exam, what is the most important next test to confirm this diagnosis?

21) A 21-year-old female who was recently treated by her PCP for a vaginal infection has been out celebrating her birthday and presents to the emergency room with her friends. She complains of tachycardia, flushing, headache, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and confusion. She states that she only had two drinks, and her friends confirm the history. What medication is she using to treat her “vaginal infection?”

22) A 15-year-old boy with a history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) presents with a two-week history of nodding, clapping hands, throat clearing, and inappropriate vocal outbursts. His mother states that the symptoms worsen when he is under stress. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

23) A 42-year-old male presents to the emergency room with productive cough, fever, fatigue, and pleuritic chest pain. Examination reveals rales over the right lower lobe and a WBC of 16,000. Gram’s stain of sputum shows gram-positive diplococci. What is the most likely diagnosis?

24) Which of the following is the drug of choice for the treatment of diarrhea caused by Cyclospora infection?

25) The HPV vaccine is commonly administered to prevent which of the following disorders?

26) Which of the following type of bacteria is the most common cause of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?

27) Infection by Bacillus anthracis is most effectively treated by which of the following medications?

28) Which of the following medications is commonly prescribed for maintenance treatment of genital herpes?

29) Which of the following modalities is used to differentiate gram-negative from gram-positive bacteria?

30) A 19-year-old college student presents to the emergency room with a complaint of fever and neck stiffness. Brudzinski’s sign is positive. Meningitis is suspected. Before a lumbar puncture can be ordered, the patient becomes somnolent and is not able to answer questions coherently. What is the most important FIRST test to be ordered for this patient?

31) A 12-year-old female presents to her PCP with the complaint of wheezing and coughing when running laps in soccer. Examination reveals scattered wheezes throughout all lung fields. Which of the following is NOT an appropriate diagnostic tool?

32) Which of the following is an appropriate treatment for rubella virus?

33) Pleural mesothelioma is a pulmonary disorder most commonly caused by exposure to which of the following?

34) Albendazole is commonly used to treat which of the following disorders?

35) A 22-year-old male with a history of intravenous drug use presents with pleuritic chest pain, difficulty breathing, cough, and a fever of 102.4°F. Which of the following are the most appropriate diagnosis and etiologic agent?