June 2023
Questions for FRCPath Microbiology
Where to find questions for FRCPath Microbiology? Part 1: A. The first question that comes to mind is - Are there any past papers? RCPath does not allow storing past papers; hence only place you can find them is RCPath's website. Find sample questions on the following pages. B. LearnInfection website: This is a BIA […]
Quick observations on the exam (Part 1/CICE) - by a successful overseas candidate
2023 Spring exam experience: I have recently sat for this exam this Spring. My account is like this. I think everyone has different strengths and weaknesses and different learning styles so adapt it accordingly. For Part 1, we need to know bits and bobs about a lot of things. And there was not a time, […]
Sharing experience on taking the CICE
Written in 2021 One of our trainees, who was successful In the CICE, has kindly shared the study materials she used. Thanks, and a big congratulations to her. No exam is easy to pass. It needs effort and preparation. The key to passing the exam is question practice based on my previous exam experiences in […]
Preparing for the FRCPath Part 1 Exam in Medical Microbiology and Virology
An IMG’s Perspective by Dr Chidi Onwukwe (2018) I decided to sit for the FRCPath part 1 in MMV sometime in 2018. I didn’t have a timeframe to work with as it was basically a loose decision made in a rare moment of inspiration. The first window of opportunity came in November/December 2018 in the […]
My prep for the part 1 exam (FRCPath Microbiology)
by Dr Saishruti Iyer (2021) I decided to appear for FRCPath sometime last year when a senior recommended that it would be a good escalation step in my career. I had not decided firmly as to when I would appear for the exam, and then, around June 2021, I decided that I would write it […]
Echinocandin
Echinocandins are a class of antifungals that prevent glucan synthesis pathways necessary for fungal cell wall formation. Echinocanins are antifungals that are widely used in clinical practice.Three echinocandins are approved for clinical use – Caspofungin, Micafungin and Anidulafungin.A fourth echinocandin – Rezafungin is being developed. Some other antifungals (some in development) that act of fungal cell walls […]
Daptomycin
Class: Cyclic lipopeptideSource: Streptomyces roseosporusDiscovered: 1980s; approved for use in 2003 (FDA)Molecular weight: 1620 DA. Mechanism of action: The Daptomycin (DAP) combines with Calcium ions to form a positively charged complex that attaches to the bacterial cell membrane (preferably at the nascent septa). This attachment depends upon the presence of phospholipid phosphatidylglycerol (PG). After attachment, DAP forms […]
Plazomicin
Nature of the antibiotic Class: Next-generation aminoglycoside (neoglycoside), semisynthetic (sisomicin based). It is not inactivated by most aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes (AME).Molecular weight: 592.68. It is synergistic with many antibiotics, including piperacillin-tazobactam. Mechanism of resistance Enterobacteriaceae: modification of the ribosomal binding site due to expression of 16S rRNA methyltransferases. Adverse effect Spectrum Gram-positive Staphylococcus (MSSA, MRSA, and coag neg […]
Tigecycline
Nature: Glycylcycline, a member of the tetracycline family. Semisynthetic derivative of minocycline.MW: 585.6 Mechanism of action: 1. Bind to 30S ribosomal subunit and inhibit protein synthesis – It inhibits the attachment of aminoacyl tRNA to the A site and prevents chain elongation, i.e. block the translation process.2. Inhibit mitochondrial protein synthesis by binding to 70 […]
Fosfomycin
Nature: Small (Mol weight – 138) phosphoenolpyruvate analogue manufactured synthetically but originally obtained from Streptomyces fradiae and some Pseudomonas sp.A broad-spectrum, a bactericidal antibiotic. Mechanism of action: Inhibit bacterial cell wall formation at a very early stage by inactivating enol pyruvate transferase (MurA).MurA catalyzes the transfer of enolpyruvate from phosphoenolphyruvate to uridine diphospho-N-acetylglucosamine (UNAG), the first step […]