Microbiology

Question 1

Banwan treatments

Answer 1

See note

Question 2

HSV Encephalitis

Answer 2

HSV-1 more common in adults and HSV-2 more likely in neonates
The typical anatomical site affected by HSV is the temporal lobe.
The gold standard for the diagnosis of HSV encephalitis is PCR viral DNA performed on CSF samples (high sensitivity/specificity).

Question 3

Late complication of measles

Answer 3

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is a late complication of measles and presents four to
ten years after the initial infection.

Question 4

When do you stop dexamethasone?

Answer 4

Stop dexamethasone if the patient is discovered not to have bacterial meningitis or if the bacterium causing meningitis is
a species other than S. pneumoniae or H. influenzae

Question 5

Diagnostic methods for parasites and fungi

Answer 5

Toxoplasmosis: IgG avidity for acute
Cysticercosis: immunoblotting
Cryptococcosis: antigen testing
Candidiasis: candida identification = germ tube test + carb assimilation test, only C. albicans and C. dubliniensis are germ tube test + chlamydospore test +ve
Malaria: blood film thin and thick, shape gives type of parasite (if we see the rings, then it’s plasmodium falciparum. If see amoeboid shape, plasmodium vivax. If see oval shape, p. Ovale. Make diagnosis by looking at the morphology).