Ace Your First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 (2021) Classes and Exams with Picmonic: #1 Visual Mnemonic Study Tool for Physician Assistant (PA) Students
With Picmonic, facts become pictures. We've taken what the science shows - image mnemonics work - but we've boosted the effectiveness by building and associating memorable characters, interesting audio stories, and built-in quizzing. Whether you're studying for your classes or getting ready for a big exam, we're here to help.
First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 (2021) | Physician Assistant (PA) School Study Aid
Sepsis Assessment
- Signs and Symptoms
- Systemic Infectious Process
- Fever
- Hypotension
- Change in LOC
- Increased WBC
- Shift to the Left
- Tachycardia
- Tachypnea
- Hyperglycemia
- Edema
2 mins
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Characteristics
- Characteristics
- Gram-Negative
- Bacillus
- Aerobic
- Pyocyanin Pigment
- Blue-green Pigment
- Grape like odor
- Non-lactose Fermenting
- Polysaccharide Capsule
- Catalase-Positive
- Oxidase-Positive
- Inactivates Elongation Factor 2
- Exotoxin A
- Endotoxin
- Water sources
3 mins
Streptococcus Pneumoniae Characteristics
- Characteristics
- Gram-Positive
- Diplococci
- Lancet-Shaped
- Catalase-Negative
- Optochin-Sensitive
- Bile Soluble
- Alpha-Hemolytic
- Polysaccharide Capsule
- Positive Quellung Reaction
- IgA Protease
1 min
Haemophilus influenzae Characteristics
- Characteristics
- Gram-Negative
- Coccobacilli
- PRP Capsule in Type B
- Positive Quellung Reaction
- IgA Protease
- Chocolate Agar
- Factor V is NAD
- Factor X is Hematin
- Staph Aureus Provides Factor V
2 mins
Neisseria Meningitidis
- Characteristics
- Gram-Negative
- Diplococci
- Chocolate Agar
- Thayer-Martin Media
- VPN
- Oxidase-Positive
- Maltose Fermentation
- Glucose Fermentation
- Endotoxin
- Lipooligosaccharide (LOS) in Membrane
- Polysaccharide Capsule
- IgA Protease
- Disease
- Waterhouse Friderichsen Syndrome
- Adrenal Insufficiency
- Petechial Rash
- Treatments
- Ceftriaxone
- Rifampin Prophylaxis
5 mins
E. coli Overview
- Characteristics
- Gram-Negative
- Bacillus
- Purple Colony with Metallic Green Sheen
- Lactose-Fermenting
- Pink on MacConkey Agar
- Disease
- Diarrhea
- Lipid A Septic Shock
- P Pili Pyelonephritis and Cystitis
- K Capsule Neonatal Meningitis
- K Capsule Pneumonia
- H Antigen Flagella
2 mins
Salmonella Overview
- Pathophysiology
- Gram-Negative Rod
- Oxidase Negative
- Non Lactose Fermenter
- White on Macconkey Agar
- H2S Producing
- Flagella
- Invades GI Tract
- Peyer's Patches
- Considerations
- Osteomyelitis in Sickle Cell Patients
- Reactive Arthritis
- Antibiotics Prolong Fecal Excretion
3 mins
Klebsiella Characteristics
- Characteristics
- Gram-Negative
- Bacilli
- Oxidase-Negative
- Intestinal Flora
- Antiphagocytic Virulence Factor
- Polysaccharide Capsule
- Positive Quellung Reaction
- Mucoid Colonies
- Urease-Positive
- Fast Lactose Fermenter
- Pink on MacConkey Agar
2 mins
Streptococcus agalactiae
- Characteristics
- Group B Streptococci
- Gram-Positive
- Cocci
- Beta-Hemolytic
- Bacitracin-Resistant
- Catalase-Negative
- Pyrrolidonyl Arylamidase (PYR) Negative
- Polysaccharide Capsule
- Hippurate Positive (+)
- Produces CAMP Factor
- Enlarges Area of Hemolysis by S. aureus
- Disease
- Mainly in Babies
- Meningitis
- Pneumonia
- Sepsis
- Colonizes Vagina
- Treatment
- Screen Pregnant Women at 35-37 Weeks
- Penicillin
3 mins
Staphylococcus aureus Characteristics
- Characteristics
- Gram-Positive
- Cocci
- Catalase-Positive
- Coagulase-Positive
- Beta-Hemolytic
- Protein A Virulence Factor
- Inhibits Phagocytosis
- MRSA
- Resistant to Beta Lactams Due to Altered Penicillin Binding Proteins (PBPs)
2 mins
Nocardia
- Characteristics
- Aerobic
- Gram-Positive
- Catalase-Positive
- Urease-Positive
- Acid Fast
- Branching
- Beaded Filament
- AIDS/Immunocompromised
- Soil
- Signs and Symptoms
- Lung Cavitation
- Brain Abscess
- Kidney Abscess
- Treatment
- TMP-SMX
2 mins
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- Characteristics
- Enveloped
- Double Stranded DNA
- Herpesvirus 5
- Diagnosis
- Non Heterophile Antibodies
- Owl's eye inclusions
- Signs and Symptoms
- Congenital TORCH infection
- Mononucleosis
- Pneumonia
- AIDS retinitis and esophagitis
- Infection in transplant recipients
2 mins
Epstein Barr Virus
- Characteristics
- Herpesvirus 4
- Double Stranded DNA
- Linear
- Enveloped
- Signs and Symptoms
- Infectious Mononucleosis
- Virus Attaches to CD21 in B Cells
- Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
- Burkitt's Lymphoma
- Hodgkin's Lymphoma
1 min
Polyomavirus
- Characteristics
- Non-enveloped
- Double-stranded DNA
- Circular
- Disease
- BK Virus
- Kidney Damage
- JC Virus
- Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML)
- HIV/AIDS
- Oligodendrocyte
- Demyelination of CNS
4 mins
Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV)
- Herpesvirus 3
- Characteristics
- Enveloped
- Double Stranded DNA
- Signs and Symptoms
- Chickenpox
- Pneumonia
- Encephalitis
- Trigeminal and Dorsal Root Ganglia
- Shingles
- Diagnosis
- Tzanck Test
- Multinucleated Giant Cells
- Cowdry A Inclusion
- Treatment
- Acyclovir
2 mins
Candida Albicans
- Fungi
- Yeast with Pseudohyphae at 20 Degrees C
- Germ Tube Formation at 37 Degrees C
- Pruritic Vaginitis
- White Cottage Cheese Discharge
- Fiery Red Mucosa
- Diabetics
- Antibiotic Use
- Esophageal Thrush in Immunocompromised
- Diaper Rash
- Endocarditis in IV Drug Users
2 mins
Pneumocystis jirovecii
- Fungi
- AIDS/Immunocompromised
- Fever
- Hypoxemia
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage
- Biopsy
- Methenamine Silver Stain
- Saucer/cup shaped yeast forms
- Diffuse interstitial pneumonia CXR
- TMP-SMX
- Start prophylaxis when CD4 drops under 200
1 min
Cryptococcus neoformans
- Characteristics
- Monomorphic
- Encapsulated
- Polysaccharide Capsule
- Narrow-Based Buds
- Latex Agglutination
- Pigeons
- India Ink
- Mucicarmine stain
- Signs and Symptoms
- AIDS/Immunocompromised
- Meningitis
- Soap Bubble Lesions in Brain
- Pneumonia
- Treatment
- Fluconazole
- Flucytosine
- Amphotericin
3 mins
Giardia lamblia
- Characteristics
- Protozoa
- Ingestion of Cysts
- Seen in Campers
- Daycare Centers
- Mental Hospitals
- Infects Small Intestine
- Signs and Symptoms
- Bloating
- Flatulence
- Fatty Diarrhea
- Diagnosis
- Crescent-shaped Protozoa Adjacent to Epithelial Brush Border
- Predisposed if Low IgA
- Treatment
- Metronidazole
3 mins
Aspergillus fumigatus
- Characteristics
- Fungi
- Monomorphic
- Septate Hyphae
- Branch at Acute Angles
- Fruiting Bodies
- Disease
- Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA)
- Eosinophilia
- Increased IgE
- Glucocorticoids +/- Azoles
- Pulmonary Aspergillosis
- TB Cavity
- Lung Aspergilloma
- Hemoptysis
- Invasive Aspergillosis
- AIDS/Immunocompromised
- Chronic Granulomatous Disease
- Hemorrhagic Infarction
- Necrotizing Bronchopneumonia
- Voriconazole +/- Caspofungin
3 mins
Mucor and Rhizopus
- Characteristics
- Fungi
- Irregular Non-septate Hyphae
- Branching Wide Angles over 90 degrees
- Signs and Symptoms
- Leukemic Patients
- Proliferate due to excess ketones and glucose
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)
- Rhinocerebral frontal lobe abscess
- Penetrate cribriform plate into brain
- Black Necrotic Eschars on Face
2 mins
