2023 Physician Licensure

Examination Practice Questions

Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the letter of the best answer.

Greg, a 31-year-old male, had an outing with his friends and developed fever of 38 °C , diarrhea
and vomiting following eating egg salad sandwich 1 day prior. Two of his friends developed the
same symptoms. Most probable diagnosis is:

A. Salmonella enteritidis poisoning

B. Bacillus cereus
C. Staphylococcus aureus
D. Vibrio cholera

ANSWER

A. Salmonella enteritidis poisoning

Staphylococcal food poisoning can be harbored from all of the following food sources, EXCEPT

A. Custard
B. Hamburger
C. Potato salad
D. Chicken sandwich

ANSWER

B. Hamburger

All of the following Staphylococcal disease entities are caused by an exotoxin release, except

A. Toxic shock syndrome

B. Scalded skin syndrome
C. Acute endocarditis
D. Gastroenteritis
ANSWER

C. Acute endocarditis
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
Two apparently healthy grade 4 boys from the same class almost simultaneously developed fever,
headache and vomiting. It was observed boys were having cough for the past few days. Fear of
epidemic of meningococcal meningitis prompted school authorities and the local rural health unit to
identify potential carriers of the bacteria. Which of the following tests is considered adequate and
suitable for the carrier survey?

A. Blood culture
B. Gram stain of sputum
C. Nasopharyngeal swab culture
D. Serologic test for antibody

ANSWER

C. Nasopharyngeal swab culture

Which virus can cause myocarditis, pericarditis, and heart disease in humans?

A. Rotavirus
B. Picornavirus
C. Reovirus
D. Coxsackie virus

ANSWER

D. Coxsackie virus

Resistance of staphylococcus to penicillin is through ___.

A. Mutation of bacterial genetic codes

B. Synthesis of thicker cell walls
C. Presence of penicillin-binding proteins
D. Production of beta-lactamase

ANSWER

D. Production of beta-lactamase
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
Streptokinase is produced by ___.
A. Staphylococcus aureus
B. Streptococcus pneumonia
C. Streptococcus faecalis
D. Streptococcus pyogenes

ANSWER

D. Streptococcus pyogenes

Which of the following explains bacterial growth to proliferate around an orthopedic implant and to
resist antimicrobial therapy?

A. Alkaline pH
B. Biofilm of glycocalyx
C. High metabolic activity
D. Low oxygen tension

ANSWER

B. Biofilm of glycocalyx
The salmonella group of organisms least likely causes ___.

A. Systemic infection
B. Enterocolitis
C. Enteric fever
D. Exanthematous reaction

ANSWER

D. Exanthematous reaction

E. coli, normal flora of the GIT, can become pathogenic and invasive. Which of the following E.coli
infection produces diarrhea mainly due to flattening of microvilli altering water and nutrient
absorption?
A. ETEC
B. EPEC
C. EHEC
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
D. EIEC

ANSWER

B. EPEC
What is the key pathological feature of dengue hemorrhagic fever?
A. Increased vascular permeability - plasma leakage into interstitial spaces - increased
vasoactive cytokines - shock
B. A saddle-back form of fever subsiding on 3rd - 4th day
C. Myalgia and deep bone pain, back, joints and eyeball
D. Encephalitis and hematoma formation

ANSWER

A. Increased vascular permeability - plasma leakage into interstitial spaces -

increased vasoactive cytokines - shock

Why does the second dengue fever infection have a higher fatality rate than the first?

A. Patient has weaker immunity during the second attack as compared to the first.
B. Patient refuses to consult the hospital and does self-medication experienced from the
first attack.
C. Preexisting dengue antibody formed complex with the virus promoting infection to
more mononuclear cells.
D. More medications are being given during the second attack thus more complications.

ANSWER

C. Preexisting dengue antibody formed complex with the virus promoting infection to
more mononuclear cells.

Which is the most common sexually transmitted disease?

A. Syphilis
B. HIV
C. Gonorrhea
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
D. Human papilloma virus

ANSWER

D. Human papilloma virus

A solitary, non-inflammatory, well-demarcated, ovoid ulcer of 1 to 2 cm on the scalp of neonate is
most likely ___.
A. Fat necrosis
B. Herpes simplex
C. Congenital varicella
D. Cutis aplasia

ANSWER

D. Cutis aplasia

Each of the following statements concerning Trichomonas vaginalis is correct, except ___.
A. It can be treated effectively with Metronidazole.
B. T. vaginalis causes bloody diarrhea.
C. It is transmitted sexually.
D. It can be diagnosed by visualizing the trophozoite.

ANSWER

B. T. vaginalis causes bloody diarrhea.

Which of the following symptoms of UTI is the most common in a child under 2 yrs of age?
A. Headache
B. Abdominal pain
C. Fever
D. Urinary frequency

ANSWER

C. Fever
Which statement may not be true for neonatal inclusion conjunctivitis?
A. Early diagnosis and treatment of infected person is important to avoid transmission
B. Instillation of erythromycin or tetracycline drops to the newborn’s eyes prevents infection
C. Control of this occurrence depends on safe sexual practices
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
D. Neonatal inclusion conjunctivitis originate in the mother’s infected genital tract

ANSWER

B. Instillation of erythromycin or tetracycline drops to the newborn’s eyes prevents

infection

Which parasite can produce stools described as steatorrheic or gruelly?

A. Entamoeba histolytica
B. Giardia lamblia
C. Balantidium coli
D. Chilomastix mesnili

ANSWER

B. Giardia lamblia

Which of the following aptly explains the clinical manifestations of tetanus?

A. Hypersensitization of the sensory receptors organ
B. Widespread proliferation of the clostridium tetanus
C. Multi-organ tissue necrosis
D. Blockage of intermediaries to inhibition of motor neuron

ANSWER

D. Blockage of intermediaries to inhibition of motor neuron

Determine the sign/symptom that would not be associated with infant botulism.
A. Weak cry
B. Stiff neck
C. Difficulty suckling
D. Limp body

ANSWER

B. Stiff neck

Dressing a 3rd degree burn on the left thigh of a 23 yr old male patient was done on the 3rd
hospital day. Greenish pus was noted although no foul odor emanated from the wound. What is
the most probable infectious agent involved?

A. Clostridium
B. Staphylococcus
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
C. Streptococcus
D. Pseudomonas

ANSWER

D. Pseudomonas

Positive fecal leucocyte finding in a child with diarrhea allows the clinician to make a presumptive
diagnosis of __
_
A. Salmonella typhi
B. Colitis
C. Shigellosis
D. Entamoeba histolytica

ANSWER

C. Shigellosis

The fungal species that do not cause infections on hair are ___.

A. Microsporoms
B. Pityrosporums
C. Epidermophytons
D. Trichophytons

ANSWER

C. Epidermophytons

Which of these following categories of people do not require the test for TB infection?

A. 7 yr old healthy girl living together with grandmother who has pulmonary TB infection
B. 45 yr old man confirmed with HIV infection
C. Healthy full-term male newborn
D. 30 yr old man traveling from Nairobi to UK for the first time
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
ANSWER

C. Healthy full-term male newborn

Which of the following is an important HIV antigen in determining the early detection of HIV
infection?

A. gp120
B. env
C. Pol gene
D. p24

ANSWER

D. p24

Which organism affects prosthetic valves?

A. A. Streptococcus sanguis
B. Enterococcus
C. Candida allbicans
D. Staphylococcus epidermidis
ANSWER

D. Staphylococcus epidermidis

Which of the following act as the main reservoir of Balantidium coli infection in human beings?
A. Mouse
B. Cow
C. Monkey
D. Pig

ANSWER

D. Pig
Select the type of pericardial fluid indicating pyogenic infection, debris, and leucocytes.
A. Serous
B. Sero-sanguinous
C. Suppurative
D. Hemorrhagic
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
ANSWER

C. Suppurative

What parasite produces infection that simulates pulmonary tuberculosis?

A. Clonorchis sinensis
B. Paragonimus westermani
C. Ascaris lumbricoides
D. Peridcardial calcification may be seen on lateral chest radiograph

ANSWER

B. Paragonimus westermani

All of the following are primary cellular components of the immune system and the gut mucosa,
except ___.
A. IgA-secreting B lymphocytes
B. Peyer’s patches
C. IgG-secreting B lymphocytes
D. Lamina propria lymphocytes

ANSWER

C. IgG-secreting B lymphocytes

Which of the following organisms affect the inferior mesenteric veins of small intestines?

A. Schistosoma haematobium
B. Schistosoma mansoni
C. Paragonimus westermani
D. Schistosoma japonicum

ANSWER

B. Schistosoma mansoni

What alpha toxin does Clostridium perfringens release which makes the gas gangrene highly
invasive?
A. Hemolysin
B. Lecithinase
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
C. Hyaluronidase
D. Neuraminidase

ANSWER

B. Lecithinase

An important differential diagnosis of genital herpes especially among HIV patients is:
A. Orf virus
B. Molluscum contagiosum
C. Tanapox
D. Yaba tumor

ANSWER

C. Tanapox

Cavitary lung lesions are seen in patients with tuberculosis and which of the following infections?
A. Filariasis
B. Strongyloidiasis
C. Ascariasis
D. Paragonimiasis

ANSWER

D. Paragonimiasis

Enterotest is used to diagnose ___.

A. Cryptosporidiosis
B. Hydatid disease
C. Giardiasis
D. Amoebiasis

ANSWER

C. Giardiasis
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
All are pathogenic free-living amoeba, except ___.

A. Balamuthiah spp.
B. Entamoeba hartmanni
C. Acanthamoeba castellani
D. Naegleria fowleri
ANSWER

B. Entamoeba hartmanni

Dermatophytes are classified according to their usual habitat. Which specie causes the greatest
number of human infections?

A. Zoophillic
B. Opportunistic yeasts
C. Anthropophilic
D. Geophilic
ANSWER

C. Anthropophilic

Most common organism causing infection after open fracture is ___.

A. Klebsiella spp.
B. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
C. N. gonorrhea
D. Staphylococcus aureus

ANSWER

D. Staphylococcus aureus

Which of the following statement is true regarding treatment of syphilis?

A. After an effective treatment, patient is no longer susceptible to syphilitic infection
B. Penicillin remains to be the treatment of choice for syphilis
C. Spontaneous healing of an untreated primary lesion indicates cure from the disease
D. Serum antibody testing can be used to determine result of treatment of neurosyphilis

ANSWER

B. Penicillin remains to be the treatment of choice for syphilis

 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
Which of the following organisms continues to be highly susceptible to penicillin?
A. Diplococcus pneumonia
B. Treponema pallidum
C. Neisseria gonorrhoeae
D. Streptococcus viridans

ANSWER

B. Treponema pallidum

Which of the following cannot be prevented with a vaccine?

A. Meningococcal meningitis
B. Listeriosis
C. Tetanus
D. Pneumococcal meningitis

ANSWER

B. Listeriosis

Which of the following antigenic structure produces endotoxicity in gonococci?

A. RMP protein
B. Opa protein
C. Por protein
D. Lipooligosaccharide
ANSWER

D. Lipooligosaccharide

In which of the following exudate specimen can a positive smear for Neisseria gonorrhea be a basis
for presumptive diagnosis of gonorrhea and start treatment without additional laboratory test/s?
A. Throat
B. Endocervical
C. Urethral
D. Rectal

ANSWER

C. Urethral
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
A 28/M worker has a 2 day history of fever, cough, dyspnea. He presents in the emergency room in
tripod position, altered sensorium with O2 sat of 86% at room air. ABG showed metabolic acidosis.
Patient was intubated but still unstable. Patient then expired at the ER. PMH (+) DM uncontrolled.
(+) Asthma Personal History: Alcoholic drinker; leather worker in a factory. What is the most likely
diagnosis?
A. Community acquired pneumonia
B. Asthma exacerbation
C. Pontiac Fever
D. Anthrax

ANSWER

D. Anthrax

A 3 yrs. old female presents with vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. Urinalysis shows pyuria and
hematuria and urine culture shows greater than 100,000 colonies of E. coli.

Which appropriate antibiotic should be given to eliminate such bacteria?

A. Penicillin
B. Cloxacillin
C. Amikacin
D. Clarithromycin

ANSWER

C. Amikacin

What imaging study, if any, is appropriate during the acute phase of the infection?
A. Voiding cystourethrogram
B. Intravenous urogram
C. Renal and urinary bladder ultrasonography
D. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen

ANSWER

C. Renal and urinary bladder ultrasonography

 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
A TB patient is considered non-infectious when he/she has ___.

A. No physical symptoms
B. Negative chest x-ray
C. Negative protein purified derivative test
D. Three-sequential negative sputum smears

ANSWER

D. Three-sequential negative sputum smears

Which of the following virulence factors contributes to progression of sepsis and multi-organ
failure?

A. Penicillinase
B. Heat-stable toxin
C. Coagulase
D. Hyaluronidase

ANSWER

D. Hyaluronidase

The parasite whose vector is a mosquito and can cause elephantiasis is ___.

A. Onchocerca volvulus
B. Mansonella perstans
C. Wuchereria bancrofti
D. Loa loa

ANSWER

C. Wuchereria bancrofti

Characteristic indurations of the irregular margins of the spreading ulcer are seen in ___.

A. Amoebic colitis
B. Amebiasis cutis
C. Aplasia cutis
D. Amoeboma
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
ANSWER

C. Aplasia cutis

A 32 yr old woman who is 10 weeks pregnant presents to the obstetric clinic for prenatal care. She
has history of treatment for syphilis 7 yrs previously. The results of the serologic tests for syphilis
are as follows: non-treponemal test RPR: nonreactive; treponemal test (TP-PA): reactive. Which of
the following statement is most correct?
A. The mother needs lumbar puncture and a VDRL test for her CSF for neurosyphilis.
B. The baby is at high risk for congenital syphilis.
C. The mother’s previous treatment for syphilis was effective.
D. The mother needs to be treated again for syphilis.

ANSWER

C. The mother’s previous treatment for syphilis was effective.

A 6 yr. old boy, who had recent travel from Baguio, was brought in at OPD because of productive
cough of 2 weeks duration and coughed out a “pinkish live worm”. On auscultation he had crackles
over upper and midlung fields. Complete blood count showed marked eosinophilia. Chest x-ray
revealed bilateral peripheral infiltrates in the upper lung fields. Fecalysis showed ova of ascaris
lumbricoides.

Hatched larvae of A. lumbricoides incubate in the ___ until they are finished maturing.
A. Liver
B. Large intestines
C. Brain
D. Lung

ANSWER

D. Lung

Which parasite wherein the manner of transmission of the following parasites is by ingestion of its
embryonated egg?
A. Strongyloides stercoralis
B. Fasciola hepatica
C. Ascaris lumbricoides
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
D. Schistosoma haematobium

ANSWER

C. Ascaris lumbricoides

Which statement is not true regarding the classification of streptococci?

A. Enterococci being group D streptococci are classified by their ability to grow 6.5% sodium
chloride
B. Pneumococci (streptococcus pneumoniae) being alpha-hemolytic can be serotyped because of
their polysaccharide capsule
C. Pneumococci and viridans streptococci can be differentiated by bile solubility test and their
susceptibility to optochin
D. Viridans streptococci are identified by Lancefield grouping, which is based on the C
carbohydrate in the cell wall

ANSWER

D. Viridans streptococci are identified by Lancefield grouping, which is based on the C

carbohydrate in the cell wall

Which is an appropriate statement about Herpes Zoster?

A. It is clinically and pathologically distinct from chickenpox.

B. It is reactivation of latent chickenpox virus in sensory ganglia.
C. It is a mutated form of chickenpox.
D. It is a second episode of infection with chickenpox virus.
ANSWER

B. It is reactivation of latent chickenpox virus in sensory ganglia.

A constipated infant was regularly being given by her mother water with honey to relieve her
constipation. Within the first month of life, the infant developed poor feeding, weakness and flaccid
paralysis thus mom sought consultation to her doctor. What is the child having?
A. Strychnine poisoning
B. Tetanus
C. Zinc deficiency
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
D. Infant botulism

ANSWER

D. Infant botulism

How does the toxin produce flaccid paralysis?

A. Toxin ferments carbohydrates and digest proteins
B. Toxin causes release of glycine
C. Toxin blocks release of inhibitory neurotransmitters
D. Toxin blocks release of acetylcholine at synapses/junctions

ANSWER

D. Toxin blocks release of acetylcholine at synapses/junctions

A 23-year-old woman present to the physician with vaginal itching and burning. On
examination, she has a frothy, foul-smelling, greenish vaginal discharge. A swab sample is
taken and a slide is prepared. Miscroscopy results showed negative for clue cells,
pseudohyphae and D-shaped egg. Which of the following gynecologic infections most likely the
cause of the woman’s illness?
A. Candida albicans
B. Gardnerella vaginalis
C. Trichomonas vaginalis
D. Enterobius vermicularis

ANSWER

C. Trichomonas vaginalis

In an individual infected with ascaris, the larvae can be found in all of the following, except
___.
A. Liver
B. Lungs
C. Kidneys
D. Intestines

ANSWER

D. Intestines
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
Which one of the following adult worms reside in the Subcutaneous tissue?
A. Brugia malayi
B. M. streptocerca
C. W. bancrofti
D. M. Ozzardi
ANSWER

D. M. Ozzardi

The finding/s during the advanced stages of HIV infection is/are ___.

A. Break down in the CD4 T cell function

B. That HIV may be cured with standard therapy
C. Change in the size of the latent HIV reservoir with therapy
D. More virulent and cytopathic strains of viruses

ANSWER

A. Break down in the CD4 T cell function

An apparently healthy 25 yrs old, male, with no known underlying medical condition, developed
fever; malaise associated with increased WBC primarily lymphocytes. He was diagnosed with Acute
Infectious Mononucleosis, which through further laboratory work-up; Epstein-Barr Virus was
identified as the etiologic agent. What will be the most probable course of the patient’s disease?
A. Evolve to acute lymphoblastic leukemia
B. Develop Burkitt lymphoma
C. Development of Hodgkin lymphoma
D. Spontaneous recovery from disease

ANSWER

D. Spontaneous recovery from disease

Which part of a long bone, e.g., femur is the primary focus of staphylococcal osteomyelitis?
A. Diaphysis
B. Epiphyseal line
C. Metaphysis
D. Epiphysis
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
ANSWER

C. Metaphysis

The organism that is least likely to be the etiologic agent causing endocarditis is ___.

A. Staphylococcus aureus
B. Pneumococcus
C. Streptococcus viridians
D. Enterococcus

ANSWER

B. Pneumococcus

A patient who was on antibiotic treatment for staphylococcal endocarditis had an unusually
prolonged clinical course because of a mutation in the mecA gene cassette. Which characteristic
regarding staphylococcus is the most plausible reason?
A. Vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA)
B. Tolerant staph aureus
C. Vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA)
D. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA)

ANSWER

D. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA)

Which of the following organisms continues to be highly susceptible to penicillin?

A. Diplococcus pneumonia
B. Treponema pallidum
C. Neisseria gonorrhoeae
D. Streptococcus viridians

ANSWER

B. Treponema pallidum

Which parasite has a dead-end cycle in man?

A. Capillaria philippinensis
B. Trichinella spiralis
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
C. Necator americanus
D. Trichuris trichuria

ANSWER

B. Trichinella spiralis

The most common geophilic species of dermatophyte causing human infection is ___.

A. Epidermophyton floccosum
B. Tricophyton rubrum
C. Microsporum gypseum
D. Malassezia furfur

ANSWER

C. Microsporum gypseum

Most strains of Staphylococcus aureus inhibit phagocytosis from polymorphonuclear leucocytes

because of their ___.

A. Teichoic acid
B. Protein A
C. Polysaccharide capsule
D. Peptidoglycan

ANSWER

C. Polysaccharide capsule
Which of the following parasites whose migrating larvae break the pulmonary capillaries of man?
A. Trichuris trichuria
B. Ascaris lumbricoides
C. Ancylostoma braziliense
D. Enterobius vermicularis

ANSWER

C. Ancylostoma braziliense
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
What is the main organ/s involved in leptospirosis?
A. Lungs
B. Brain and GIT
C. Skeletal muscles
D. Liver and kidney

ANSWER

D. Liver and kidney

Which organism is commonly affecting intravenous drug abusers?

A. Streptococcus viridans
B. Staphylococcus epidermidis
C. Candida albicans
D. Staphylococcus aureus

ANSWER

D. Staphylococcus aureus

A 60 yr old diabetic male developed maculo-papular rashes just below his right armpit. Several days
earlier, he was experiencing dull to sharp and deep pain over the upper segment of his right lateral
chest wall. Later the rashes became more widespread but confined to the right upper lateral chest
wall, and assumed vesicular and painful lesions. Past medical history showed that he had chickenpox
as one of his childhood diseases. The most probable clinical diagnosis is:

A. Herpes simplex
B. Streptococcal pyodermata
C. Herpes zoster
D. Variola

ANSWER

C. Herpes zoster

Osteomyelitis in a HIV positive patient has the following characteristics, except ___.

A. Often bilateral
B. Necrosis absent
C. Most common cause is S. aureus
D. Periosteal new bone formation
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
ANSWER

B. Necrosis absent

Myocarditis is usually caused by ___.

A. Coxsackie A
B. M. tuberculosis
C. Coxsackie B
D. Streptococcus pyogenes

ANSWER

C. Coxsackie B

Stevens Johnson syndrome (erythema multiforme major) is associated with all of the following,
except ___.

A. Drug-related causes
B. Corneal scarring
C. A good response to prednisone
D. Infectious causes

ANSWER

D. Infectious causes

The so-called Quellung reaction involves which of the following

A. Peptidoglycan layer
B. Flagella
C. M-protein
D. Polysaccharide capsule

ANSWER

D. Polysaccharide capsule
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
Each of the following statements concerning Strongyloides stercoralis is correct, except ___.

A. Migrating larvae of s. stercoralis induce marked eosinophilia

B. S. stercoralis produces filariform larvae
C. S. stercoralis undergoes free-living life cycle in soil
D. S. stercoralis is acquired by ingestion of eggs

ANSWER

D. S. stercoralis is acquired by ingestion of eggs

Which is not a common route of the spread of hepatitis A virus?

A. Close personal contact
B. Transfusion of packed RBC
C. Consumption of contaminated food or water
D. Infants/toddlers in day care centers

ANSWER

B. Transfusion of packed RBC

All of the following statements are correct, EXCEPT

A. Novobiocin is an agent used to differentiate Staphylocci species
B. Viridans group causes incomplete hemolysis observed in BAP
C. Nocardia is weakly-acid fast and can be detected using the Fite-Faraco Staining
D. Strep. mutans is optochin-sensitive

ANSWER

D. Strep. mutans is optochin-sensitive

An otherwise healthy 35 yr old male suddenly developed profuse diarrhea, accompanied by nausea
and vomiting. Stool examination showed gram-negative bacilli and biochemical reaction patterns
showed that the organism is non-lactose fermenter. Blood culture was negative. The diarrhea
responded to loperamide and the patient was well after 2 days.

Which of the following was the most probable offending organism?

A. Escherichia coli
B. Salmonella typhimurium
C. Enterococcus
D. Vibrio cholera
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology

ANSWER

B. Salmonella typhimurium

Which of the following regarding enterocolitis secondary to this organism is true?

A. Stool culture results are usually negative

B. Replacement fluid/electrolyte is essential
C. Bacteremia is usual
D. Antimicrobial therapy is essential

ANSWER

B. Replacement fluid/electrolyte is essential

Among the following, which/who is the more important source of infection in humans?

A. Meats and meat products

B. Milk and dairy products
C. Household pets
D. Human carriers working as food handlers

ANSWER

A. Meats and meat products

Which statement is true about the diphtheria vaccine?

A. The first booster dose of diphtheria vaccine should be given at least 24 months after the
last in the primary course.
B. It is contraindicated to pregnant patients especially those on the third trimester
C. DTaP is given to pre-adolescents especially those with high-risk exposure
D. It is only available in combination with other vaccines.
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
ANSWER

D. It is only available in combination with other vaccines.

Situation – A 56 y/o male business man and a returning traveler from Africa presented with macules
evolving into papules and vesicles over his genitalia, torso and extremities. This came with sore
throat, body malaise, and fever. Which of the following is NOT true regarding Monkeypox?

A. Monkeypox symptoms usually start within 3 weeks of exposure to the virus. If someone
has flu-like symptoms, they will usually develop a rash 1-4 days later.
B. It can be spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has healed, all scabs have
fallen off, and a fresh layer of skin has formed.
C. Primary prevention includes Vaccination
D. Vertical transmission does not occur

ANSWER

D. Vertical transmission does not occur

Aling Charing, an immunocompromised patient, was brought to the ER due to intractable diarrhea.
Fecalysis showed numerous cysts of Giardia lamblia.

In what portion of the alimentary tract does Giardia encyst?

A. Stomach
B. 5cm from Pyloric sphincter until Jejunum
C. Large intestine
D. Distal esophagus

ANSWER

C. Large intestine
A 30-year-old man comes to the ER department because of dysphagia and diplopia that developed
after he consumed a homemade strawberry jam. While in the emergency room, he developed general
muscle weakness and requires intubation due to sudden respiratory muscle paralysis. Which of the
following pathogens is most likely responsible for this patient’s condition?

A. Clostridium botulinum
B. Clostridium perfringens
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
C. Clostridium tetani
D. Clostridium difficile

ANSWER

A. Clostridium botulinum
A 2-year-old boy who plays in a sandbox in a nursery that also has a family of cats for children to
play with presents with wheezing, hepatosplenomegaly, and prominent peripheral blood
eosinophilia. Which of the following diagnoses is most likely in this child?

A. Ascariasis
B. Pinworm infestation
C. Visceral larva migrans
D. Loeffler’s syndrome

ANSWER

D. Loeffler’s syndrome
A 68-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency room after eating sushi and sashimi at a fancy
Japanese restaurant. The patient showed symptoms of vomiting and epigastric pain. When admitted
to the hospital five hours after eating the contaminated raw seafood, she complained of severe
epigastric pain, chest pain and vomiting, and the immediately fell into a state of mental stupor.
Which of the following organism is most likely responsible for this woman’s condition?

A. Pfiesteria
B. Anisakis
C. Vibrio vulnificus
D. Vibrio parahaemolyticus

ANSWER

B. Anisakis
Salmonella infections are characterized by all of the following, except

A. Typhoid fever
B. Gastroenteritis
C. Bacillary dysentery
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
D. Enteric fever

ANSWER

C. Bacillary dysentery
Situation - A 33 yr old woman consulted because of lower abdominal pain, abnormal vaginal
discharge, dysuria, and painful intercourse. Her doctor diagnosed her as having pelvic
inflammatory disease (PID).

Which organism is most commonly involved in PID?

A. T pallidum
B. Candida
C. Vaginitis
D. Gonorrhea

ANSWER

D. Gonorrhea
Which of the following is the best predictor of the long-term clinical outcome of HIV infection?

A. Timing of antiviral therapy

B. Plasma viral load
C. CD4 lymphocyte count
D. Level of antibody

ANSWER

B. Plasma viral load

Discover the eggs of Trichuris trichuria in feces by all of the following except

A. Graham scotch tape technique

B. Direct fecal smear
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
C. Saturated brine flotation method
D. Kato Katz technique

ANSWER

A. Graham scotch tape technique

A 20-year-old man presents to the physician with a non-tender indurated mass over his mandible. He
has had this mass for 4 months and decided to come to the physician because the mass stated to ooze
a thick yellow exudate. Yellow granules are seen on microscopic examination of the discharge.
Which of the following organism is most likely responsible for this man’s lesion?

A. Actinomyces israelli
B. Nocardia asteroides
C. Staphylococcus aureus
D. Trichinella spiralis

ANSWER

A. Actinomyces israelli

A 13-year-old child is brought to the pediatrician because of a purulent yellow discharge oozing
from his eyes. On physical examination, both eyelids are swollen, and the conjunctivae appear
inflamed. Under microscopic view, scraping from the conjunctival surface show epithelial cells with
basophilic inclusions in the cytoplasm, called Halberstaedter-Prowazek bodies. Which of the
following organism is most likely responsible for this patient’s condition?

A. Adenovirus
B. Chlamydia trachomatis
C. Neisseiria gonorrhea
D. Treponema pallidum

ANSWER

B. Chlamydia trachomatis

Which of the following is the vector of Coxiella burnetti?

A. Tick
B. Fly
C. Mite
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
D. No Vector

ANSWER

D. No Vector

The following are causative agents of cutaneous mycoses except

A. Microsporum
B. Sporothrix
C. Trichophyton
D. Epidermophyton

ANSWER

B. Sporothrix

Thick yeast of with multiple buds in wheel configuration “captain’s / mariner’s wheel” formation

A. Histoplasma
B. Coccidioides
C. Blastomyces
D. Paracoccidiodes

ANSWER

D. Paracoccidiodes

Situation – A 72 yr old lady from Southern China arrived at the Philippine airport when the airport
authorities were very strict of visitors and ‘’balikbayans’. She manifested with fever, malaise, chills,
headache, dizziness, cough, and sore throat. Chest x-ray revealed infiltrate

Because of travel history, the virus which is most likely causing her illness is ___.

A. Respiratory syncytial
B. Coronavirus
C. Influenza
D. Adenovirus
 2023 Physician Licensure
Examination Practice Questions
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
ANSWER

B. Coronavirus

How long in days is the incubation period of the SARS Cov 2 virus?

A. 7
B. 8
C. 10
D. 5

ANSWER

A. 7