1. Corynebacterium diphtheriae, the causative agent of diphtheria, is best described as a:
2. The diphtheria toxin exerts its primary cytotoxic effect by which of the following mechanisms?
3. A hallmark clinical finding in pharyngeal diphtheria is the presence of:
4. The gene encoding for diphtheria toxin (tox gene) is introduced into non-toxigenic strains of C. diphtheriae via:
5. Which special stain is used to demonstrate the characteristic metachromatic (volutin) granules in C. diphtheriae?
6. The most critical and immediate therapeutic intervention in a patient with suspected clinical diphtheria is:
7. The “bull neck” appearance associated with severe diphtheria is caused by:
8. The in-vitro precipitation test used to confirm the toxigenicity of a C. diphtheriae isolate is known as:
9. What is the most common cause of mortality in patients with diphtheria?
10. The vaccine used for active immunization against diphtheria contains:
11. Which culture medium is selective for C. diphtheriae and results in the formation of grey-black colonies due to tellurite reduction?
12. The primary role of antibiotic therapy (e.g., penicillin) in diphtheria management is to:
13. The Schick test is an intradermal test used to determine:
14. Neurological complications of diphtheria, such as palatal palsy, typically manifest:
15. A key feature differentiating the diphtheritic pseudomembrane from that of streptococcal tonsillitis is that the diphtheritic membrane:
16. The only known natural reservoir for Corynebacterium diphtheriae is:
17. Which component of the diphtheria toxin is responsible for binding to receptors on the host cell surface?
18. Prophylaxis for an asymptomatic, unvaccinated close contact of a confirmed diphtheria case should include:
19. Cutaneous diphtheria typically presents as:
20. The Tdap vaccine, recommended for adolescents and adults, provides protection against:
21. What is the composition of the pseudomembrane in diphtheria?
22. Myocarditis as a complication of diphtheria is due to:
23. Which of the following describes the characteristic appearance of C. diphtheriae on Gram stain?
24. A patient is treated for severe pharyngeal diphtheria. After recovery, which of the following is recommended?
25. The systemic spread of diphtheria toxin primarily occurs via:
