Infectious Diseases

Question 1

What is the difference between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria?

Answer 1

• Gram-positive: Thick peptidoglycan wall, stains purple (e.g., Staphylococcus, Streptococcus).
• Gram-negative: Thin peptidoglycan wall, outer membrane with LPS, stains pink (e.g., E. coli, Pseudomonas).

Question 2

What are the most common bacterial infections?

Answer 2

Pneumonia: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Meningitis: Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae.

UTI: E. coli.

Question 3

What is sepsis?

Answer 3

Life-threatening organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated immune response to infection.

Question 4

What are the signs of sepsis?

Answer 4

Fever,
tachycardia,
hypotension,
altered mental status,
high WBC count.

Question 5

What is the treatment for sepsis?

Answer 5

IV fluids,
broad-spectrum antibiotics,
vasopressors if needed.

Question 6

What are the key differences between DNA and RNA viruses?

Answer 6

• DNA viruses: Replicate in the nucleus (e.g., Herpesviruses).
• RNA viruses: Replicate in the cytoplasm (e.g., Influenza, SARS-CoV-2).

Question 7

What are common viral infections?

Answer 7

Influenza,
COVID-19,
Hepatitis B & C,
HIV,
Herpes simplex virus (HSV).

Question 8

What is the mechanism of HIV infection?

Answer 8

HIV targets CD4+ T cells, leading to immune suppression and increased infection risk.

Question 9

What is the treatment for HIV?

Answer 9

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) to suppress viral replication.

Question 10

What are the most common fungal infections?

Answer 10

Candidiasis (Candida albicans),
Aspergillosis,
Cryptococcal meningitis.

Question 11

What are risk factors for fungal infections?

Answer 11

Immunosuppression (HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy, organ transplantation).

Question 12

What is the treatment for fungal infections?

Answer 12

Antifungals (fluconazole, amphotericin B).

Question 13

What are the most common parasitic infections?

Answer 13

• Malaria (Plasmodium species).
• Giardiasis (Giardia lamblia).
• Amoebiasis (Entamoeba histolytica).
• Toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma gondii).

Question 14

How is malaria transmitted?

Answer 14

By Anopheles mosquitoes, carrying Plasmodium parasites.

Question 15

What is the treatment for malaria?

Answer 15

Chloroquine, artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT).