Staph vs Strep
Gram-positive cocci identification. Catalase, coagulase, hemolysis patterns, and the decision tree that sorts them all.
Gram Stain Reference
Gram +/- cocci and rods, special stains, and the 37-organism quick reference. Pattern recognition for board vignettes.
Meningitis
Bacterial vs viral vs fungal CSF patterns, age-based organisms, empiric treatment, Waterhouse-Friderichsen, Cryptococcus in HIV, dexamethasone timing.
Animal Farm: The Zoonotic Bacteria You Catch From Animals
HIV CNS Infections: Crypto, CMV, Toxo, PML
HIV CNS infection board review: cryptococcal meningitis, CMV retinitis, toxoplasmosis, and JC virus PML organized by CD4 count, imaging pattern, diagnosis, treatment, and clinical walkthroughs.
Opportunistic Infections · The CD4 Ladder
What bugs appear at what CD4 count. The slider that teaches you the ladder, prophylaxis thresholds, transplant timeline, and every board trap they love.
TORCH Infections
Toxoplasma, Other (syphilis), Rubella, CMV, HSV. Vertical transmission timeline and the classic neonatal findings.
Virus Classification: DNA vs RNA & Structure
Neurosyphilis: Tabes Dorsalis & Argyll Robertson
E. coli vs Shigella
Botulism
Measles, Mumps, Rubella: The MMR Split
Interactive board review that separates measles, mumps, and rubella by the one clue that matters: mouth, parotid, or posterior nodes and pregnancy.