MEDNAX 6: INFECTIOUS DISEASES, NEUROLOGICAL & PROFESSIONAL ISSUES |NEONATAL
MEDICAL CONDITIONS| EXAM 2025|170 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED CORRECT RATIONALES
1. An infant requiring treatment for syphilis should receive:
A single dose of Cefoxitin
Seven days of Procaine Penicillin G
Ten days of aqueous crystalline Penicillin G
2. In a clinical scenario, if a neonate presents with a severe bacterial
infection and requires intravenous antibiotic therapy, which of the
following would be the most appropriate choice?
Aqueous crystalline Penicillin G
Procaine Penicillin
Ceftriaxone
Amoxicillin
3. If a healthcare provider encounters an infant born to a mother with
untreated syphilis, what should be their immediate course of action
considering the 66% asymptomatic rate?
Conduct thorough screening and monitoring for potential
symptoms of syphilis.
Assume the infant is healthy and provide routine care.
Delay any intervention until symptoms appear.
Refer the infant to a specialist without further assessment.
4. What are three potential causes included in the differential diagnosis for
seizures in neonates?
Hypoglycemia, infection, and drug withdrawal
Dehydration, hyperthermia, and electrolyte imbalance
, Trauma, congenital anomalies, and metabolic disorders
Anemia, respiratory distress, and cardiac arrhythmias
5. What is the most common organism linked to urinary tract infections in
newborns?
E-coli
Staphylococcus aureus
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Enterococcus faecalis
6. What best describes the reason for taking lumbar puncture (tap) at the
vertebral level L4-L5?
It is less painful for the patient at that level
It minimizes the risk of damaging the spinal cord at that level
The dura mater at that level becomes very thin, delicate and easy
to puncture
It allows drawing a larger volume of CSF.
7. If an infant exhibits a response where the eyes do not deviate away from
the direction of head rotation during the doll's eye maneuver, what could
this indicate about the infant's neurological status?
Potential neurological impairment
Normal brainstem function
Healthy vestibular response
No issues with visual tracking
8. A false positive reaction to a maternal nontreponemal test can be caused
by:
Neural tube defect in the fetus
, Maternal SSRI use
Autoimmune disease
9. What is the expected eye movement during the doll's eye maneuver
when the head is rotated to the right?
Deviate to the left
Remain fixed
Deviate to the right
Move in the same direction as the head
10. What is the primary purpose of inserting a lumbar puncture needle
between the L4-L5 vertebrae?
To minimize spinal cord and nerve damage
To collect cerebrospinal fluid
To administer medication directly into the spinal canal
To relieve pressure from the brain
11. Which causes devastating encephalitis affecting neonates born to
women with active genital lesions?
HSV-1
HSV-2
rabies
12. Describe the significance of the dosing recommendation for Acyclovir in
the treatment of neonates and infants.
The dosing recommendation ensures effective antiviral
treatment while minimizing toxicity.
, The dosing recommendation is arbitrary and does not affect
treatment outcomes.
The dosing recommendation is only relevant for older children
and adults.
The dosing recommendation is based on the patient's weight
alone.
13. Which of the following pathogens is the most common cause of lower
respiratory tract infection in infants?
adenovirus
respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
influenza virus
coxsackie virus
parainfluenza virus
14. Hydrocephalus= water in the head
Communicating hydrocephalus= decrease in reabsorption via
arachnoid granulations, obstruction of flow in subarachnoid
space, or excess CSF production (tumor)
Noncommunicating hydrocephalus= obstruction of flow at any
point in ventricles
15. Describe the role of joint aspiration in the diagnosis of septic arthritis in
neonates.
Joint aspiration is used to obtain synovial fluid for analysis,
helping to confirm the presence of infection in the joint.
Joint aspiration is primarily used to relieve pain in the joint.
Joint aspiration is a method to inject medication directly into the
joint.
MEDICAL CONDITIONS| EXAM 2025|170 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED CORRECT RATIONALES
1. An infant requiring treatment for syphilis should receive:
A single dose of Cefoxitin
Seven days of Procaine Penicillin G
Ten days of aqueous crystalline Penicillin G
2. In a clinical scenario, if a neonate presents with a severe bacterial
infection and requires intravenous antibiotic therapy, which of the
following would be the most appropriate choice?
Aqueous crystalline Penicillin G
Procaine Penicillin
Ceftriaxone
Amoxicillin
3. If a healthcare provider encounters an infant born to a mother with
untreated syphilis, what should be their immediate course of action
considering the 66% asymptomatic rate?
Conduct thorough screening and monitoring for potential
symptoms of syphilis.
Assume the infant is healthy and provide routine care.
Delay any intervention until symptoms appear.
Refer the infant to a specialist without further assessment.
4. What are three potential causes included in the differential diagnosis for
seizures in neonates?
Hypoglycemia, infection, and drug withdrawal
Dehydration, hyperthermia, and electrolyte imbalance
, Trauma, congenital anomalies, and metabolic disorders
Anemia, respiratory distress, and cardiac arrhythmias
5. What is the most common organism linked to urinary tract infections in
newborns?
E-coli
Staphylococcus aureus
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Enterococcus faecalis
6. What best describes the reason for taking lumbar puncture (tap) at the
vertebral level L4-L5?
It is less painful for the patient at that level
It minimizes the risk of damaging the spinal cord at that level
The dura mater at that level becomes very thin, delicate and easy
to puncture
It allows drawing a larger volume of CSF.
7. If an infant exhibits a response where the eyes do not deviate away from
the direction of head rotation during the doll's eye maneuver, what could
this indicate about the infant's neurological status?
Potential neurological impairment
Normal brainstem function
Healthy vestibular response
No issues with visual tracking
8. A false positive reaction to a maternal nontreponemal test can be caused
by:
Neural tube defect in the fetus
, Maternal SSRI use
Autoimmune disease
9. What is the expected eye movement during the doll's eye maneuver
when the head is rotated to the right?
Deviate to the left
Remain fixed
Deviate to the right
Move in the same direction as the head
10. What is the primary purpose of inserting a lumbar puncture needle
between the L4-L5 vertebrae?
To minimize spinal cord and nerve damage
To collect cerebrospinal fluid
To administer medication directly into the spinal canal
To relieve pressure from the brain
11. Which causes devastating encephalitis affecting neonates born to
women with active genital lesions?
HSV-1
HSV-2
rabies
12. Describe the significance of the dosing recommendation for Acyclovir in
the treatment of neonates and infants.
The dosing recommendation ensures effective antiviral
treatment while minimizing toxicity.
, The dosing recommendation is arbitrary and does not affect
treatment outcomes.
The dosing recommendation is only relevant for older children
and adults.
The dosing recommendation is based on the patient's weight
alone.
13. Which of the following pathogens is the most common cause of lower
respiratory tract infection in infants?
adenovirus
respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
influenza virus
coxsackie virus
parainfluenza virus
14. Hydrocephalus= water in the head
Communicating hydrocephalus= decrease in reabsorption via
arachnoid granulations, obstruction of flow in subarachnoid
space, or excess CSF production (tumor)
Noncommunicating hydrocephalus= obstruction of flow at any
point in ventricles
15. Describe the role of joint aspiration in the diagnosis of septic arthritis in
neonates.
Joint aspiration is used to obtain synovial fluid for analysis,
helping to confirm the presence of infection in the joint.
Joint aspiration is primarily used to relieve pain in the joint.
Joint aspiration is a method to inject medication directly into the
joint.
