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The Microbiology course for medical students: 78 structured notes and 1,170 exam-style questions, every option explained.

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Practice question · BacteriologyStudy mode
Pulse118/min
BP88/56
Resp24/min
Temp36.8°C

A 58-year-old woman comes to the emergency department with 12 hours of profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. She has taken omeprazole daily for 6 years for reflux esophagitis and takes no other medication. Several people who shared the same meal have remained well. Temperature is 36.8°C (98.2°F), blood pressure is 88/56 mm Hg, pulse is 118/min, and respirations are 24/min. Mucous membranes are dry and capillary refill is delayed. The abdomen is soft and non-tender. Stool microscopy shows no leukocytes, and culture on thiosulfate-citrate-bile salts-sucrose agar grows yellow colonies of an oxidase-positive curved Gram-negative rod.

Which of the following host defenses is most likely impaired in this patient?

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Medical Microbiology

78 notes · 1,170 exam-style MCQs

  • General Microbiology5 notes
  • Bacteriology35 notes
  • Virology17 notes
  • Mycology7 notes
  • Parasitology10 notes
  • Antimicrobials4 notes
Structured notesExam-style MCQsRecall and memo cardsMy StackProgress tracking
US$14.99 a month or US$34.99 every 3 months
  • What you get: all 78 notes and all 1,170 questions of the Microbiology course while your subscription is active, with recall and memo cards, My Stack and Progress.
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Coming next
PathologyIn preparation
PharmacologyPlanned
ImmunologyPlanned
NeuroanatomyPlanned
AnatomyPlanned
HistologyPlanned
PhysiologyPlanned
Biochemistry & GeneticsPlanned
Notes

Every organism, organized for revision

Each note follows the same structure, from key features and pathogenesis to diagnosis and treatment, so the facts that examinations test are always in the same place.

  • Recall and memo cards for better long-term retention
  • Tables, pathways and figures with captions
  • Checked against standard textbooks and official sources

See all 78 notes in the Medical Microbiology course →

Memo
Coagulase→Positive: S. aureusNegative: most other staphylococci
Coagulase-positive = S. aureus (clots plasma, forms abscesses). Coagulase-negative = S. epidermidis / S. saprophyticus (device- and catheter-associated). A single enzyme test separates S. aureus from the coagulase-negative staphylococci.
From the note Staphylococci
Questions

Clinical vignettes, every option explained

Choose questions by subject and topic, then answer them in study mode or timed exam mode. Study mode gives instant feedback and a hint that highlights the key clues in the vignette. Every option is explained, followed by a short teaching block, and missed questions link back to the note they come from.

  • Study mode: instant feedback and clue hints
  • Timed exam mode at 90 seconds per question
  • Practice new, marked or incorrectly answered questions
  • A teaching block with every answer
My Stack

Save any section, review it later

Press + on any section of a note to save it to My Stack. Open My Stack to review your saved sections one at a time, across notes and subjects, before an examination.

  • One tap to save, from every note
  • Grouped by subject and note
  • Review mode, one section at a time
Progress

See where you stand

Questions seen, overall accuracy, accuracy by topic and your recent block scores, so you know what to revise next.

Progress tab with accuracy by topic and recent block scores
Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is TheMedCoach?

TheMedCoach offers medical school courses, one subject at a time. Each course has structured notes, exam-style multiple-choice questions with every option explained, recall and memo cards, and My Stack, where you save sections of notes to review later.

Which courses are available?

Medical Microbiology is available now, covering general microbiology, bacteriology, virology, mycology, parasitology and antimicrobials. Pathology is in preparation, and further courses are planned.

How much does the Microbiology course cost?

US$14.99 a month, or US$34.99 every 3 months. The subscription renews automatically and can be canceled at any time; applicable taxes are shown at checkout. The free preview costs nothing.

Do I pay for each course separately?

Yes. Each course is priced and bought on its own, so you pay only for the course you are taking.

Is it written for the USMLE Step 1?

It is not written for one particular examination. The Microbiology course is written for the microbiology taught and examined in medical school, and its topics are checked against the USMLE Content Outline. All questions are single-best-answer multiple-choice questions, almost all built on a clinical vignette, as in medical school and licensing examinations. TheMedCoach is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USMLE program, its owners (the Federation of State Medical Boards and the National Board of Medical Examiners) or any other examination or licensing body.

How is the content checked?

Facts are checked against First Aid for the USMLE Step 1, Levinson’s Review of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Murray’s Medical Microbiology, the Merck Manual Professional, FDA prescribing information, WHO and CDC. All notes, questions and figures are original. TheMedCoach is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publishers or organizations named here.

Is there a free preview?

Yes. A free account opens a preview of the Microbiology course with no time limit: six notes, one from each part of the course, and 100 practice questions, with My Stack and progress tracking. No card is needed.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes. It runs in the browser on phones, tablets and computers.

Start the Microbiology course

Six notes and 100 practice questions, free and with no time limit. Sign up with Google or your email.