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

What is the most appropriate method for sterilizing a heat-labile liquid solution containing essential proteins for use in tissue culture?

A clinical microbiology laboratory is investigating a potential outbreak of Legionella pneumophila associated with a hospital's water system. The MOST appropriate environmental samples to collect for culture and comparison to clinical isolates would be:

A patient with a history of inflammatory bowel disease is diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis and undergoes liver transplantation. Post-transplant, they develop a bloodstream infection with a Gram-negative bacterium that is identified as Fusobacterium nucleatum. This organism's role in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer is primarily attributed to its ability to:

A clinical microbiology laboratory encounters a Gram-negative bacillus isolated from a bloodstream infection. The isolate exhibits resistance to multiple antibiotics, including carbapenems. Further phenotypic testing reveals the production of a metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL). Which of the following antibiotic combinations might still retain activity against this isolate?

A clinical microbiology laboratory is investigating a cluster of bloodstream infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus. To differentiate between community-associated (CA-MRSA) and healthcare-associated (HA-MRSA) strains, they may look for the presence of:

Microscopic examination of a Calcofluor white stained sputum sample from an immunocompromised patient with suspected invasive pulmonary infection reveals septate hyphae that branch dichotomously at acute (approximately 45°) angles. Conidial structures are observed, showing conidiophores arising from a specialized foot cell, terminating in a flask-shaped vesicle that bears phialides only on the upper two-thirds (uniseriate arrangement). Chains of small, round conidia are produced. This morphology is most characteristic of:

A serum sample from an asymptomatic patient screened for syphilis yields a reactive Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) test result with a titer of 1:16, but a non-reactive Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TP-PA) test. What is the most likely interpretation of these findings?

Clavulanic acid is often combined with amoxicillin (e.g., Augmentin™) to overcome certain types of bacterial resistance. What is the primary mechanism by which clavulanic acid enhances amoxicillin's activity?

A research team is investigating the mechanisms of antifungal resistance in Candida albicans. They identify a strain that exhibits resistance to azole antifungal agents. Further analysis reveals overexpression of a specific ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter protein in the resistant strain. This mechanism of resistance involves:

A patient develops a febrile illness with jaundice and dark urine after receiving a blood transfusion. Laboratory testing reveals an elevated level of unconjugated bilirubin and a positive direct Coombs test. Serological testing is positive for antibodies against a protozoan parasite that infects erythrocytes. The MOST likely causative agent is: