Infections: bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic: primary cutaneous aspergillosis: practice question

A Dermatology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

Dermatology · Infections: bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic: primary cutaneous aspergillosis

Sample item

A neutropenic patient develops an erythematous plaque with a black central eschar around an intravenous cannula site. Biopsy shows septate hyphae branching at acute angles. Which organism is most likely?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Aspergillus species

Aspergillus forms septate hyphae that branch dichotomously at about 45 degrees, and primary cutaneous disease occurs at IV sites or burns in neutropenic hosts. Treatment is surgical debridement with voriconazole.

Option by option

  • A. Aspergillus species (correct)

    Correct. Acute-angle branching septate hyphae characterise Aspergillus.

  • B. Candida albicans

    Candida appears as yeasts and pseudohyphae, not branching septate hyphae.

  • C. Sporothrix schenckii

    Sporothrix forms cigar-shaped yeasts in tissue, not branching hyphae.

  • D. Rhizopus species

    Rhizopus is a mucormycete with broad aseptate hyphae branching at right angles.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Dermatology questions

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is A, Aspergillus species. Aspergillus forms septate hyphae that branch dichotomously at about 45 degrees, and primary cutaneous disease occurs at IV sites or burns in neutropenic hosts.

Why is "Candida albicans" not the answer?

Candida appears as yeasts and pseudohyphae, not branching septate hyphae.

Why is "Sporothrix schenckii" not the answer?

Sporothrix forms cigar-shaped yeasts in tissue, not branching hyphae.

Why is "Rhizopus species" not the answer?

Rhizopus is a mucormycete with broad aseptate hyphae branching at right angles.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infections: bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic: primary cutaneous aspergillosis in Dermatology. Treatment is surgical debridement with voriconazole.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Infections: bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic: primary cutaneous aspergillosis?

Learn each condition by its primary lesion, site and signature sign. Then use the flashcards and the other Dermatology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.