ASM-ABMM Exam Details

  • Exam Code
    :ASM-ABMM
  • Exam Name
    :American Board of Medical Microbiology
  • Certification
    :American Society of Microbiology Certifications
  • Vendor
    :American Society of Microbiology
  • Total Questions
    :202 Q&As
  • Last Updated
    :May 26, 2026

American Society of Microbiology ASM-ABMM Online Questions & Answers

  • Question 131:

    A patient with HIV infection and a CD4+ T-cell count below 100 cells/μL presents with headache, fever, and altered mental status. CSF analysis reveals elevated protein and low glucose. India ink stain is negative. Cryptococcal antigen test of the CSF is positive. The MOST appropriate initial treatment is:

    A. Amphotericin B and flucytosine
    B. Fluconazole
    C. Voriconazole
    D. Caspofungin

  • Question 132:

    The erm gene in Staphylococcus aureus confers resistance to which class(es) of antibiotics via modification of the ribosomal target site?

    A. Beta-lactams only
    B. Macrolides, Lincosamides, and Streptogramin B (MLSandlt;sub>Bandlt;/sub>)
    C. Aminoglycosides
    D. Fluoroquinolones

  • Question 133:

    A research laboratory is investigating the mechanism of action of a novel antiviral drug against herpes simplex virus. The drug is found to inhibit the viral DNA polymerase. Which of the following commercially available antiviral agents has a similar mechanism of action?

    A. Acyclovir
    B. Amantadine
    C. Oseltamivir
    D. Interferon-alpha

  • Question 134:

    A microbiology laboratory is performing Gram staining on a bacterial smear. If the safranin counterstain is omitted, Gram-negative bacteria will appear:

    A. Purple
    B. Blue
    C. Colorless
    D. Brown

  • Question 135:

    A patient develops a vesicular rash on their hands and feet, accompanied by fever and oral ulcers. The MOST likely causative agent is:

    A. Varicella-zoster virus
    B. Herpes simplex virus
    C. Coxsackievirus A
    D. Measles virus

  • Question 136:

    During an outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis in a nursing home, environmental swabs are collected to identify the source of the infection. Which of the following methods would be MOST appropriate for detecting norovirus in these samples?

    A. Culture on human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells
    B. Gram staining and microscopy
    C. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)
    D. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for viral antigens

  • Question 137:

    A research laboratory is investigating the mechanism of action of a novel antiviral compound. In vitro studies demonstrate that the compound effectively inhibits the replication of a specific enveloped RNA virus. Further analysis reveals that the compound does not interfere with viral entry, genome replication, or protein synthesis. However, electron microscopy of infected cells treated with the compound shows an accumulation of viral glycoproteins within the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus, with a significant reduction in the release of infectious virions. The MOST likely target of this antiviral compound is:

    A. Viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase
    B. Viral protease responsible for polyprotein cleavage
    C. Host cell membrane fusion machinery
    D. Viral glycoprotein trafficking and maturation

  • Question 138:

    A patient with a history of neutropenia following chemotherapy develops a severe pneumonia. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid reveals the presence of hyaline, septate hyphae with frequent dichotomous branching at acute angles. Culture yields a filamentous fungus that produces conidiophores with a vesicle bearing phialides that release chains of conidia. The MOST likely genus is:

    A. Mucor
    B. Rhizopus
    C. Aspergillus
    D. Fusarium

  • Question 139:

    A clinical microbiology laboratory is performing antimicrobial susceptibility testing on a Streptococcus pneumoniae isolate using broth microdilution. The lowest concentration of antibiotic that inhibits visible growth of the organism is reported as the:

    A. Zone diameter
    B. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)
    C. Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC)
    D. Breakpoint

  • Question 140:

    An elderly patient in a long-term care facility develops a localized outbreak of painful vesicles along a dermatome. Tzanck smear of a vesicle reveals multinucleated giant cells. The MOST likelycausative agent is:

    A. Herpes simplex virus type 1
    B. Varicella-zoster virus
    C. Coxsackievirus
    D. Orf virus

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