MRCP - infectious disease
questions and answers
Most severe cause of malaria
Plasmodium falciparum
How is malaria transmitted?
Female mosquitos which require blood for development of their
eggs
What percentage of parasitaemia is classified as falciparum
malaria?
>2% on thin film
Are thick or thin films used to determine species in malaria?
Thin films
What is latent TB?
Bacterium are contained without becoming symptomatic. These
patients are not considered infectious nor can they spread the
disease.
Reactivation TB illness develops in the setting of immune
compromise.
Latent TB treatment
3 months of isoniazid (with pyridoxine) and rifampicin OR
6 months of isoniazid (with pyridoxine)
Active TB treatment
Initial phase - first 2 months (RIPE)
Rifampicin
Isoniazid
Pyrazinamide
Ethambutol
Continuation phase - next 4 months
, Rifampicin
Isoniazid
Antibiotic choice for tetanus
IV metronidazole
Tetanus blocks the release of which neurotransmitter (causing
spastic paralysis)?
GABA
What is MAC (Mycobacterium Avium Complex)? How does it present?
Atypical mycobacterial infection seen in HIV patients typically
caused by mycobacterium avium.
Presents similarly to TB but more likely to cause hepatomegaly
(Fever, night sweats, abdo pain, diarrhoea)
At what CD4 count does MAC typically occur?
CD4 < 50
But abx prophylaxis given when CD4 <100
Abx prophylaxis in MAC
Clarithromycin or azithromycin
MAC treatment
Clarithromycin + ethambutol +/- rifabutin or rifampicin
How can syphilis investigations be divided?
non-treponemal tests
- not specific for syphilis, therefore may result in false positives
treponemal-specific tests
- more specific for syphilis
- remains positive after treatment
Fever, rash, headaches, and either single or multiple eschars
suggests what type of infection?
Rickettsial infection
Rickettsial infection treatment
Doxycycline
questions and answers
Most severe cause of malaria
Plasmodium falciparum
How is malaria transmitted?
Female mosquitos which require blood for development of their
eggs
What percentage of parasitaemia is classified as falciparum
malaria?
>2% on thin film
Are thick or thin films used to determine species in malaria?
Thin films
What is latent TB?
Bacterium are contained without becoming symptomatic. These
patients are not considered infectious nor can they spread the
disease.
Reactivation TB illness develops in the setting of immune
compromise.
Latent TB treatment
3 months of isoniazid (with pyridoxine) and rifampicin OR
6 months of isoniazid (with pyridoxine)
Active TB treatment
Initial phase - first 2 months (RIPE)
Rifampicin
Isoniazid
Pyrazinamide
Ethambutol
Continuation phase - next 4 months
, Rifampicin
Isoniazid
Antibiotic choice for tetanus
IV metronidazole
Tetanus blocks the release of which neurotransmitter (causing
spastic paralysis)?
GABA
What is MAC (Mycobacterium Avium Complex)? How does it present?
Atypical mycobacterial infection seen in HIV patients typically
caused by mycobacterium avium.
Presents similarly to TB but more likely to cause hepatomegaly
(Fever, night sweats, abdo pain, diarrhoea)
At what CD4 count does MAC typically occur?
CD4 < 50
But abx prophylaxis given when CD4 <100
Abx prophylaxis in MAC
Clarithromycin or azithromycin
MAC treatment
Clarithromycin + ethambutol +/- rifabutin or rifampicin
How can syphilis investigations be divided?
non-treponemal tests
- not specific for syphilis, therefore may result in false positives
treponemal-specific tests
- more specific for syphilis
- remains positive after treatment
Fever, rash, headaches, and either single or multiple eschars
suggests what type of infection?
Rickettsial infection
Rickettsial infection treatment
Doxycycline
