Fungal and Parasitic Infections USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 28-year-old woman with no past medical history presents with severe frontal headache, photophobia, and fever lasting 2 weeks. CSF analysis shows elevated protein, low glucose, and India ink stain reveals round yeast cells with a prominent halo. Blood cultures are negative. Which of the following is the most likely causative organism?
Answer choices
- ACoccidioides immitis
- BHistoplasma capsulatum
- CCryptococcus neoformansCorrect answer
- DTreponema pallidum
- EStreptococcus agalactiae
- FBlastomyces dermatitidis
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