Master Specialist Medical Microbiology (MIC5251)
for DHA Speciality

A 34-year-old woman at 30 weeks' gestation presents with a 3-day history of dysuria, urinary frequency, and right flank pain. She is febrile at 38.9?C, BP 105/65 mmHg, HR 108/min. Urinalysis shows nitrites and leukocyte esterase; urine culture is pending. She has no drug allergies and normal renal function (creatinine 62 umol/L). She is haemodynamically stable and not in preterm labour. Which is the most appropriate empiric antibiotic?

A 68-year-old man with type 2 diabetes and a prosthetic mitral valve presents with 5 days of fever, malaise, and a new systolic murmur. Blood cultures grow Staphylococcus aureus in both bottles at 14 hours. He has no known drug allergies. Transthoracic echocardiography is non-diagnostic. Which is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 24-year-old man presents with a 2-day history of profuse watery diarrhoea after returning from Bangladesh. He is afebrile, BP 100/60 mmHg, HR 110/min, and has passed 8 stools in 24 hours. Stool microscopy shows no leukocytes; stool culture is pending. He has no allergies and normal renal function. Which is the most appropriate initial management?

A 45-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus on prednisolone 20 mg daily and mycophenolate presents with 2 weeks of headache, fever, and neck stiffness. CSF shows lymphocytic pleocytosis (120 cells/uL), raised protein, and low glucose. India ink stain is positive. She has no allergies and normal renal function. Which is the most appropriate initial therapy?

A 72-year-old man with chronic kidney disease (eGFR 28 mL/min/1.73m?) presents with a 4-day history of fever, cough, and pleuritic chest pain. Chest X-ray shows right lower lobe consolidation. He has no allergies. Which is the most appropriate empiric antibiotic?