Cryptococcosis MCQ Quiz | Infectious Diseases – Fungal

1. The primary causative agent of cryptococcosis in immunocompromised patients, particularly those with HIV/AIDS, is:

2. What is the most important virulence factor of Cryptococcus neoformans that protects it from phagocytosis?

3. The classic environmental reservoir for Cryptococcus neoformans is:

4. Which of the following is the most sensitive and specific rapid diagnostic test for cryptococcal meningitis?

5. The India Ink stain is a negative staining technique used to visualize what feature of Cryptococcus in a CSF sample?

6. What is the standard induction therapy for cryptococcal meningitis in an HIV-positive patient?

7. Which enzyme produced by Cryptococcus species hydrolyzes urea to ammonia, contributing to its neurotropism by altering the pH of the microenvironment?

8. Which Cryptococcus species is more frequently associated with disease in immunocompetent hosts and is environmentally linked to eucalyptus trees?

9. The most common presentation of pulmonary cryptococcosis in an immunocompetent individual is:

10. A key clinical feature of cryptococcal meningitis that often differentiates it from acute bacterial meningitis is:

11. Following successful induction and consolidation therapy, what is the recommended maintenance therapy to prevent relapse of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis?

12. What is the characteristic appearance of Cryptococcus neoformans colonies on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA)?

13. An HIV patient with a low CD4 count, recently started on antiretroviral therapy (ART) after being treated for cryptococcal meningitis, presents with worsening neurological symptoms and increasing intracranial pressure. This is most likely due to:

14. The production of melanin is a virulence factor for Cryptococcus as it protects the fungus from:

15. A characteristic and prognostically important finding on lumbar puncture in a patient with cryptococcal meningitis is:

16. Primary prophylaxis for cryptococcosis with fluconazole is recommended in which patient population?

17. A key biochemical test used in the laboratory to differentiate C. gattii from C. neoformans is growth and color change on:

18. Besides the CNS and lungs, which other organ system is commonly affected in disseminated cryptococcosis, often presenting with umbilicated papules?

19. Flucytosine (5-FC) exerts its antifungal effect by being converted to 5-fluorouracil within the fungal cell, which then interferes with:

20. A major dose-limiting side effect associated with Amphotericin B deoxycholate therapy is:

21. In histopathology, which special stain is particularly useful for highlighting the mucopolysaccharide capsule of Cryptococcus in tissue samples, staining it a deep rose to red color?

22. What is the primary route of entry for Cryptococcus into the human body?

23. In a patient with cryptococcal meningitis and a very high opening pressure (>30 cm H2O), what is the most important immediate management step to prevent neurological damage?

24. The consolidation phase of treatment for cryptococcal meningitis, following the initial induction phase, typically consists of:

25. The ability of C. neoformans to produce melanin is demonstrated in the laboratory using media containing L-DOPA. This test detects the presence of which enzyme?