Infection

Question 1

The monospot test makes use of what type of antibody produced in response to EBV infection?

Answer 1

Heterophile antibodies - but this is not 100% sensitive for EBV

Question 2

Which haemotological malignancy is EBV most strongly associated with?

Answer 2

Burkitt’s lymphoma

Question 3

What is one of the most specific antibody tests for EBV?

Answer 3

Antibodies for the Viral caspid antigen (VCA-IgM)

Question 4

Which antibiotics are particularly associated with C. diff infection?

Answer 4

Cephalosporins
Clindamycin (and macrolides)
Ciprofloxacin
Co-amoxiclav

Question 5

What is the first and second line treatment for C. diff?

Answer 5

First-line therapy is oral metronidazole for 10-14 days.

If severe or not responding to metronidazole then oral vancomycin may be used.

Question 6

How is C. diff diagnosed?

Answer 6

Stool sample - Clostridium difficile toxin (CDT) in the stool

Question 7

What is the definition of pyrexia of unknown origin?

Answer 7

A prolonged fever (>38.3) of > 3 weeks which resists diagnosis after a week in hospital

Question 8

What CD4 count is considered end stage HIV / AIDS and puts the patient at high risk of opportunistic infections?

Answer 8

< 200 cells/mm3

Question 9

What blood tests can confirm diagnosis of HIV?

Answer 9

HIV PCR and p24 antigen tests

Question 10

Which pathogenic organism typically causes a dry cough, deranged LFTs, and hyponatraemia?

Answer 10

Legionella pneumophilia

may also cause lymphopenia

Question 11

What test can be used to detect legionella infection?

Answer 11

Urinary legionella antigen

Question 12

With which atypical pneumonia may you see complications such as haemolytic anaemia and erythema multiforme?

Answer 12

Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Question 13

What pathogen is most classically associated with under-cooked or reheated rice and has a short incubation period?

Answer 13

Bacillus cereus