Pass the American Society of Microbiology ASM-ABMM ABMM Questions and answers with ExamsMirror

A patient with a history of intravenous drug use develops a fever and new heart murmur. Blood cultures are positive for Gram-positive cocci that are catalase-positive and coagulase-positive. The MOST likely complication of this infection is:

A patient with recent abdominal surgery develops a fever, abdominal pain, and a wound infection. Gram stain of the wound exudate reveals a mixture of Gram-negative rods and Gram-positivebacilli. Anaerobic culture yields a foul-smelling, Gram-negative rod that is bile-esculin positive. The MOST likely organism is:

A patient returning from a mission trip to Africa presents with fever, headache, and a characteristic relapsing pattern of symptoms. Peripheral blood smear reveals the presence of extracellular flagellated protozoa. The MOST likely diagnosis is African trypanosomiasis caused by:

A research laboratory is developing a novel diagnostic assay for early detection of sepsis. They are investigating the use of host biomarkers that are rapidly upregulated in response to bacterial infection. Which of the following biomarkers has shown promise for differentiating between systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and sepsis?

Which of the following organisms is an obligate intracellular bacterium transmitted by arthropod vectors and is a common cause of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?

Which of the following bacterial genera inherently possesses D-alanyl-D-lactate peptide subunits in its peptidoglycan precursors, conferring natural, high-level resistance to vancomycin?

A patient with a history of neutropenia following chemotherapy develops a rapidly progressive pneumonia. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid reveals septate hyphae with acute angle (45-degree) branching. The MOST likely diagnosis is invasive pulmonary aspergillosis caused by:

An immunocompromised patient returning from a trip to the southwestern United States presents with fever, cough, and chest pain. Chest X-ray shows diffuse pulmonary infiltrates. Sputum culture grows a dimorphic fungus that forms spherules containing endospores at 37°C. The MOST likely causative agent is:

A microbiology laboratory receives a sample of cerebrospinal fluid from a patient with suspected bacterial meningitis. The Gram stain shows Gram-positive diplococci. Culture on blood agar shows alpha-hemolytic colonies that are bile soluble and optochin-sensitive. The MOST likely organism is:

The gut microbiome has been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Dysbiosis, a disruption in the composition and function of the gut microbiota, can lead to increased intestinal permeability and the translocation of microbial products that trigger inflammatory responses. Which of the following bacterial components is a potent activator of the innate immune system and has been linked to the development of autoimmunity?