PC705 Module 2 Infectious Disease
Test Questions with Guaranteed Pass
Solutions 2025-2026 Updated.
Streptococcus Pneumoniae - Answer normally colonized in the pharynx
cultured from throat swab
if found in the lungs, most common form of infection
causes community-acquired pneumonia. can be tricky to ID. continue to search - listen to breath
sounds, spo2, cxr, living situation
Fungal Cell Membranes - Answer Key elements:
eukaryotic cells
*membrane lipid ergosterol* which is the *target of antifungal drugs* and is not found in
human cells.
Azoles (fluconazole) and allylamines (terbinafine) block the production of ergosterol.
fungal infections can be superficial (dermatophytes on skin & hair) or systemic (rarer and more
lethal)
more common in immunocompromised people.
HIV - Answer Retrovirus:
-RNA based virus
*Reverse transcriptase enzyme converts to single-strand, then double strand DNA*
-integrase inserts into host cell genome
ID: test for presence of HIV P24 antigen and antibodies to HIV
Viral load and CD4 count is tracked.
, Goal of ART Tx: achieve low to undetectable viral copies, at which point it is not possible to
transmit the virus to others.
Progression if not treated: Tracking of CD4 lymphocytes indicate an acute decline, recovery,
followed by a more prolonged decline during clinical latency (9 weeks to 9 years) until death.
Viral load has an acute peak that is then suppressed by adaptive immune responses, then
gradually increased during latency (9wk-9yr range), followed by a rapid increase with transition
to AIDS.
At risk populations: older adults have reduced awareness of risk since they aren't worried about
pregnancy, Dx may be delayed, more rapid decline and more severe presentation due to an
already lower CD4 count with aging.
Malaria (Plasmodium Species) - Answer The best way to ID: look under a microscope to see
the parasite Plasmodium falciparum!
*infection colonizes in the liver, symptoms begin once it spreads to RBCs.*
*dx confirmed by microscope for RBC inclusions*
other ID methods: polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for parasite DNA, immune-based rapid
detection test, host antibodies.
Protozoal parasite of 5 pathogenic Plasmodium species
Transmission by the female Anopheles mosquito: organism proliferation is sexual (in mosquito)
and asexual (in vertebrate host)
Parasites have a high degree of drug resistance. prophylaxis given to travelers in high-risk areas.
Prevention: protective clothing, mosquito nets
High-risk groups: children, pregnancy, concurrent HIV infection
Test Questions with Guaranteed Pass
Solutions 2025-2026 Updated.
Streptococcus Pneumoniae - Answer normally colonized in the pharynx
cultured from throat swab
if found in the lungs, most common form of infection
causes community-acquired pneumonia. can be tricky to ID. continue to search - listen to breath
sounds, spo2, cxr, living situation
Fungal Cell Membranes - Answer Key elements:
eukaryotic cells
*membrane lipid ergosterol* which is the *target of antifungal drugs* and is not found in
human cells.
Azoles (fluconazole) and allylamines (terbinafine) block the production of ergosterol.
fungal infections can be superficial (dermatophytes on skin & hair) or systemic (rarer and more
lethal)
more common in immunocompromised people.
HIV - Answer Retrovirus:
-RNA based virus
*Reverse transcriptase enzyme converts to single-strand, then double strand DNA*
-integrase inserts into host cell genome
ID: test for presence of HIV P24 antigen and antibodies to HIV
Viral load and CD4 count is tracked.
, Goal of ART Tx: achieve low to undetectable viral copies, at which point it is not possible to
transmit the virus to others.
Progression if not treated: Tracking of CD4 lymphocytes indicate an acute decline, recovery,
followed by a more prolonged decline during clinical latency (9 weeks to 9 years) until death.
Viral load has an acute peak that is then suppressed by adaptive immune responses, then
gradually increased during latency (9wk-9yr range), followed by a rapid increase with transition
to AIDS.
At risk populations: older adults have reduced awareness of risk since they aren't worried about
pregnancy, Dx may be delayed, more rapid decline and more severe presentation due to an
already lower CD4 count with aging.
Malaria (Plasmodium Species) - Answer The best way to ID: look under a microscope to see
the parasite Plasmodium falciparum!
*infection colonizes in the liver, symptoms begin once it spreads to RBCs.*
*dx confirmed by microscope for RBC inclusions*
other ID methods: polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for parasite DNA, immune-based rapid
detection test, host antibodies.
Protozoal parasite of 5 pathogenic Plasmodium species
Transmission by the female Anopheles mosquito: organism proliferation is sexual (in mosquito)
and asexual (in vertebrate host)
Parasites have a high degree of drug resistance. prophylaxis given to travelers in high-risk areas.
Prevention: protective clothing, mosquito nets
High-risk groups: children, pregnancy, concurrent HIV infection
