Mycology/Parasitology USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 34-year-old woman with untreated HIV (CD4 200 cells/μL) presents with progressive dyspnea, fever, and a nonproductive cough for 3 weeks. Chest imaging shows bilateral interstitial infiltrates. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid is negative for acid-fast bacilli and fungal culture. Which of the following organisms is most likely responsible for this presentation?
Answer choices
- AHistoplasma capsulatum
- BAspergillus fumigatus
- CPneumocystis jiroveciiCorrect answer
- DCryptococcus neoformans
- ECandida albicans
- FMycobacterium avium complex
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