Mastering Microbiology for NEET-PG and INI-CET in Just 6 Days

Daily Targets

  • Read/Revise 3–4 hours.
  • Solve 120–150 MCQs (30 per block, timed) with an error log.
  • Make 4–6 mini‑cards/day (stains/media, toxins, antigen/antibody windows, sterilization parameters, drug‑MOA vs resistance).

Day 1 — General Micro, Immunology, Sterilization/Disinfection, Lab Diagnosis & Antimicrobials

General microbiology

  • Classification basics: bacteria (Gram ±; shape; aerobic/anaerobic), mycobacteria, spirochetes, atypicals (mycoplasma/chlamydia/rickettsia), viruses (DNA/RNA; envelope), fungi (yeasts, molds, dimorphic), parasites (protozoa, helminths), prions.
  • Growth curve (lag, log, stationary, death); generation time; biofilms; quorum sensing.
  • Spore formation (Bacillus/Clostridium); survival & sterilization implications.
  • Pathogenesis: colonization vs infection; adhesins, invasins; exotoxins (A‑B, superantigens), endotoxin (LPS) effects.

Immunology essentials

  • Innate vs adaptive; cells (neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic, NK; B/T cells).
  • MHC I vs II; antigen processing & presentation; T‑cell subsets (Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg) — cytokine flavors.
  • B‑cell activation: primary vs secondary response; class switching; affinity maturation.
  • Hypersensitivity: Types I–IV — classic clinical examples.
  • Autoimmunity concept; tolerance; complement pathways (C3, C5‑9 MAC).
  • Vaccines: live attenuated vs inactivated vs subunit/toxoid vs conjugate; schedules concept; herd immunity idea.

Sterilization & disinfection (memorize parameters)

  • Sterilization: moist heat autoclave (121°C 15 psi 15–20 min / 134°C flash), dry heat hot‑air oven (160–180°C, 1–2 h), filtration (bacteria vs viruses), radiation (gamma/UV), ethylene oxide.
  • Disinfection: levels (high/intermediate/low); alcohols, chlorine, glutaraldehyde/OPA, chlorhexidine, iodophors, hydrogen peroxide; contact time.
  • Asepsis & biosafety: biosafety cabinets (Class II), PPE, needle‑stick protocol basics, biomedical waste color coding (concept).

Microscopy & staining

  • Light microscopy; dark‑field (spirochetes), phase‑contrast, fluorescence.
  • Stains: Gram, Ziehl–Neelsen/Kinyoun (acid‑fast), Albert (Corynebacterium granules), India ink (Cryptococcus), Lactophenol cotton blue (fungi), Giemsa (malaria), Silver stain (fungi/spirochetes), PAS (fungal polysaccharide), Calcofluor white.
  • Special tests: motility (hanging drop), capsule/spore stains.

Culture media & identification

  • Enrichment vs selective vs differential media; blood/Chocolate, MacConkey (lactose fermenters), CLED, TCBS (Vibrio), Lowenstein–Jensen (mycobacteria), Sabouraud (fungi), Thayer–Martin (Neisseria), Bordet–Gengou/Regan–Lowe (B. pertussis), BCYE (Legionella), Tellurite/Löffler (Corynebacterium), Selenite F (Salmonella enrichment).
  • Biochemical tests: catalase, coagulase, oxidase, urease, indole, citrate, TSI, urease, H2S, bile solubility, optochin/bacitracin sensitivity.
  • Antigen detection: latex agglutination; rapid tests.
  • Molecular tests: PCR/RT‑PCR; NAAT; sequencing (concept).

Antimicrobials & resistance (exam‑heavy)

  • Cell wall inhibitors: β‑lactams (PBPs; β‑lactamases), vancomycin (D‑Ala‑D‑Ala binding → D‑Ala‑D‑Lac resistance), bacitracin.
  • Protein synthesis: 30S (aminoglycosides, tetracyclines) vs 50S (macrolides, clindamycin, chloramphenicol, linezolid); adverse effect clues.
  • Nucleic acid: fluoroquinolones (DNA gyrase), rifampicin (RNA pol), metronidazole (free radicals), TMP‑SMX (folate pathway).
  • Antifungals: polyenes (ergosterol binding), azoles (lanosterol demethylase), echinocandins (β‑glucan), flucytosine.
  • Antivirals broad concepts: polymerase/protease inhibitors; neuraminidase inhibitors; entry inhibitors.
  • Resistance mechanisms: β‑lactamase/ESBL/carbapenemase; target alteration (PBP2a in MRSA), efflux pumps, porin loss; enzymatic modification (AGs), methylation (MLSb).
  • Susceptibility testing: disk diffusion (Kirby–Bauer), MIC/MBC, E‑test; D‑test (inducible clindamycin resistance).

Day‑1 MCQs focus

  • Sterilization temperatures/times; stain organism matches; selective media uses; vaccine types; resistance mechanisms; hypersensitivity examples.

Day 2 — Bacteriology: Gram‑Positive, Gram‑Negative, Atypicals & Mycobacteria

Gram‑positive cocci

  • Staphylococcus aureus: toxins (TSST‑1, exfoliative, enterotoxins); diseases (skin/soft tissue, TSS, SSSS, food poisoning); MRSA (PBP2a).
  • CoNS (S. epidermidis—biofilm on prosthetics; S. saprophyticus—UTI young women).
  • Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A): pharyngitis, scarlet fever, impetigo, erysipelas, cellulitis; rheumatic fever (M protein), PSGN; toxins (SPEs).
  • S. agalactiae (Group B): neonatal sepsis/meningitis; maternal screening concept.
  • Viridans streptococci (endocarditis); S. mutans (dental caries); S. pneumoniae (optochin‑sensitive, bile soluble; lobar pneumonia, meningitis, otitis media).
  • Enterococcus (faecalis/faecium): UTI, endocarditis; VRE concept.

Gram‑positive rods

  • Bacillus anthracis (eschar, wool sorter); B. cereus (reheated rice vomiting/diarrhea types).
  • Corynebacterium diphtheriae (gray pseudomembrane, myocarditis, neuropathy; Elek test; tox gene from phage); C. jeikeium (device infections concept).
  • Listeria monocytogenes (tumbling motility; neonatal sepsis/meningitis; cold growth).
  • Clostridium: tetani (spasticity), botulinum (descending paralysis), perfringens (gas gangrene, double zone hemolysis), difficile (pseudomembranous colitis; toxins A/B).

Gram‑negative cocci & coccobacilli

  • Neisseria meningitidis (meningitis, meningococcemia; Waterhouse‑Friderichsen); N. gonorrhoeae (PID, neonatal conjunctivitis) — Thayer–Martin; oxidase +.
  • Haemophilus influenzae (chocolate agar with factors X/V; epiglottitis, meningitis, otitis, pneumonia) — type b historic; NTHi otitis.
  • Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough; lymphocytosis; Regan–Lowe/Bordet–Gengou media).
  • Brucella (undulant fever; unpasteurized dairy); Francisella tularensis (ulceroglandular); Pasteurella multocida (animal bite cellulitis).

Enterobacterales & GNB rods

  • Enterobacteriaceae: E. coli (ETEC—traveler’s diarrhea; EHEC—HUS; UTI), Klebsiella (currant jelly pneumonia), Proteus (swarming, struvite stones), Enterobacter/Serratia/Citrobacter (nosocomial).
  • Salmonella typhi (step‑ladder fever, rose spots); Salmonella non‑typhoidal (gastroenteritis); Shigella (dysentery; low ID₅₀; HUS with shiga toxin).
  • Vibrio cholerae (rice‑water stools; TCBS), V. parahaemolyticus (seafood).
  • Campylobacter jejuni (bloody diarrhea; GBS link), Helicobacter pylori (urease +; ulcers).
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa (oxidase +, non‑lactose fermenter; ecthyma gangrenosum; hot‑tub folliculitis); Acinetobacter (nosocomial, MDR).
  • Legionella pneumophila (atypical pneumonia, hyponatremia; BCYE; urinary Ag test).
  • Yersinia pestis/enterocolitica basics.

Atypicals, spirochetes & zoonoses

  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae (no cell wall; cold agglutinins; Eaton agar concept); Chlamydia trachomatis (inclusion bodies; serovars D–K PID/neonatal; L1–L3 LGV); Chlamydophila psittaci (psittacosis).
  • Rickettsia rickettsii (RMSF), R. prowazekii (epidemic typhus); Orientia tsutsugamushi (scrub typhus).
  • Spirochetes: Treponema pallidum (syphilis stages; VDRL/RPR non‑treponemal; FTA‑ABS treponemal), Borrelia (Lyme; relapsing fever), Leptospira (weil disease).

Mycobacteria (high‑yield)

  • M. tuberculosis: acid‑fast; cord factor; PPD/IGRA; primary vs secondary TB; miliary; drug basics.
  • Atypical mycobacteria: MAC, M. kansasii; leprosy (M. leprae—lepromatous vs tuberculoid; Lepromin test concept).

Day‑2 MCQs focus

  • Optochin/bile solubility; catalase/coagulase; lactose fermentation; selective media; toxin–disease matches; atypical pneumonia causes; TB/leprosy pointers; enteric pathogen differentiators.

Day 3 — Virology: General, DNA/RNA Viruses, Hepatitis, Retroviruses, Arboviruses & PEP

General virology

  • Structure: nucleic acid type, capsid symmetry, envelope; replication sites (DNA nucleus except pox; RNA cytoplasm except orthomyxo/retro).
  • Cytopathic effects; inclusion bodies (Cowdry, Negri); hemagglutination.
  • Lab diagnosis: antigen detection, PCR/NAAT, culture (limited), serology (IgM vs IgG), viral load concept.

DNA viruses (core ones)

  • Herpesviridae: HSV‑1/2 (orolabial/genital), VZV (chickenpox/shingles), CMV (congenital, transplant), EBV (mono; malignancies), HHV‑6 (roseola); latency sites concept.
  • Adenovirus (pharyngoconjunctival), Parvovirus B19 (erythema infectiosum; aplastic crisis), Poxvirus (molluscum contagiosum), Papillomavirus (HPV warts; oncogenic types).

RNA viruses (core ones)

  • Orthomyxovirus (Influenza A/B — antigenic drift vs shift); Paramyxo (Measles, Mumps, RSV, Parainfluenza — Koplik spots, parotitis, bronchiolitis, croup); Rhabdovirus (Rabies — Negri bodies); Filovirus (Ebola overview).
  • Picornaviridae (Polio, HAV, Rhinovirus, Coxsackie), Calici (Norovirus), Reovirus (Rotavirus), Astrovirus basics.
  • Flaviviridae (Dengue—warning signs; Zika; Yellow fever; Japanese encephalitis; HCV), Togavirus (Rubella—TORCH), Bunyavirus (Hantavirus).
  • Coronaviruses (overview including SARS‑like illnesses).

Hepatitis viruses

  • HAV (fecal–oral; acute), HBV (DNA hepadnavirus; HBsAg/HBeAg/HBcAb windows), HCV (chronicity), HDV (dependent), HEV (pregnancy severe forms concept).
  • Serology patterns: acute vs chronic vs resolved vs vaccinated (HBsAg, anti‑HBc IgM/IgG, HBeAg/anti‑HBe, anti‑HBs logic).

Retroviruses

  • HIV: structure (gp120/gp41), cells infected (CD4+ T, macrophages); course of infection; opportunistic infections overview; basic lab diagnosis (Ag/Ab combo, RNA load); PEP/PrEP concept level.

Post‑exposure prophylaxis (PEP) & vaccinations (viral)

  • Rabies PEP outline; HBV needle‑stick basics depending on vaccine/Ab status; varicella/measles exposure ideas.

Day‑3 MCQs focus

  • DNA vs RNA replication sites; measles/Koplik; mumps complications; influenza drift vs shift; hepatitis serology tables (logic‑based); rabies/HIV PEP scenarios; dengue vs chikungunya pointers.

Day 4 — Mycology, Parasitology, Infection Control, Hospital Micro & Stewardship

Mycology

  • Yeasts: Candida (thrush, candidemia; germ tube), Cryptococcus (India ink, meningitis; antigen test).
  • Molds: Aspergillus (ABPA, aspergilloma, invasive); Zygomycetes/Mucor (DKA rhinocerebral).
  • Dimorphic fungi (systemic): Histoplasma, Blastomyces, Coccidioides, Paracoccidioides (concept awareness); Penicilliosis (regional awareness), Sporothrix (rose gardener).
  • Dermatophytes: Trichophyton/Microsporum/Epidermophyton — KOH mount, tinea patterns.
  • Antifungals: polyenes, azoles, echinocandins, flucytosine — MOA clues.

Parasitology — protozoa

  • Intestinal: Entamoeba histolytica (flask‑shaped ulcers; liver abscess), Giardia (foul, fatty diarrhea), Cryptosporidium (acid‑fast oocysts; watery diarrhea), Cystoisospora/Cyclospora basics.
  • Urogenital: Trichomonas vaginalis (frothy discharge; strawberry cervix).
  • Blood/tissue: Plasmodium (vivax/falciparum basics; periodic fever; severe malaria signs), Toxoplasma (TORCH), Leishmania donovani (kala‑azar), Trypanosoma (sleeping sickness/Chagas overview), Naegleria (meningoencephalitis).

Parasitology — helminths

  • Nematodes: Ascaris (eosinophilia; Loeffler), Ancylostoma/Necator (iron deficiency), Enterobius (perianal itch), Trichuris (rectal prolapse), Strongyloides (autoinfection), Toxocara (visceral larva migrans), Wuchereria (filaria; lymphedema), Dracunculus (concept).
  • Cestodes: Taenia solium (neurocysticercosis), T. saginata, Echinococcus (hydatid cysts), Diphyllobothrium (B12 deficiency).
  • Trematodes: Schistosoma (hematuria—haematobium), Clonorchis/Opisthorchis (cholangiocarcinoma link concept), Paragonimus basics.
  • Lab: stool O&P, concentration methods; wet mounts; antigen tests (where applicable).

Water, food, & environmental microbiology (concept)

  • Indicators (coliforms); water testing basics; food poisoning organisms & toxins (preformed vs formed in gut).

Infection control & hospital microbiology

  • HAI pathogens: MRSA, VRE, ESBL/CRE, Pseudomonas/Acinetobacter, C. difficile.
  • Bundles: CLABSI, CAUTI, VAP prevention; surgical site infection basics; hand hygiene moments; isolation precautions (contact/droplet/airborne).
  • Biomedical waste segregation basics; spill management; needle‑stick flow.

Antimicrobial stewardship

  • Core strategies: right drug/dose/duration; de‑escalation; IV‑to‑PO switch; antibiogram use.
  • Monitoring: DOT, DDD concepts; audit & feedback.

Day‑4 MCQs focus

  • Germ tube/India ink/KOH mounts; malaria species clues; stool O&P IDs; food poisoning timelines; HAI bundles; isolation categories; stewardship logic.

Rapid Revision (Last Evening)

  • Stains/media one‑liners: AFB (ZN), India ink (Crypto), Albert (C. diphtheriae), TCBS (Vibrio), LJ (TB), Thayer–Martin (Neisseria), Sabouraud (fungi), BCYE (Legionella), Regan–Lowe (Pertussis), Bordet–Gengou (historic).
  • Sterilization: autoclave 121°C/15 psi/15–20 min; hot‑air oven 160–180°C/1–2 h; filtration for heat‑labile; ethylene oxide for plastics; UV for surfaces.
  • Toxins: TSST‑1 (S. aureus), Shiga/Shiga‑like (Shigella/EHEC), diphtheria toxin (EF‑2), tetanospasmin vs botulinum, cholera toxin (↑cAMP), pertussis toxin (↑cAMP), anthrax edema/lethal factor.
  • Antigen/antibody windows: HBV (HBsAg/HBeAg/HBc IgM/IgG/anti‑HBs logic), HIV combo test window idea.
  • Mycobacteria & leprosy key points; malaria severe features; rabies PEP steps; Candida germ tube.
  • HAI: contact (C. difficile/MRSA), droplet (influenza), airborne (TB/varicella). Hand hygiene 5 moments (concept).

Practice Pattern (all days)

  • Timed MCQ blocks → immediate review → write one rule learned from each error.
  • Vignette flow: identify pathogen/category → pick best initial test → match stain/media → choose first‑line management/precaution.
  • Mini‑cards to carry: stains & media; toxin–effect pairs; vaccine types; HBV serology logic; malaria species hallmarks; sterilization parameters; HAI precautions; drug MOA→resistance pairs.
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