ABP Pediatric Infectious Diseases study plan

Differentiate at least 25 major gram-positive and gram-negative pediatric pathogens by Gram stain, colony morphology, typical age of presentation, and characteristic syndrome, building a comparison chart as you go.

Interpret blood, urine, CSF, and respiratory culture and susceptibility reports across 30 vignette-style cases, stating the most likely organism, whether it represents infection or contamination, and the next diagnostic step.

Explain the performance characteristics of culture, antigen, and nucleic acid amplification tests (sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value) and identify how pretest probability changes interpretation in a febrile infant.

Identify organisms requiring special media, prolonged incubation, or sentinel-site sampling (Bartonella, Francisella, Brucella, mycobacteria, anaerobes) and state the exact collection and transport requirement for each.

Map each of the 12 major antimicrobial classes to its mechanism of action, spectrum, and characteristic pediatric toxicity, producing a drug-class matrix that includes beta-lactams, glycopeptides, aminoglycosides, macrolides, fluoroquinolones, antifolates, and nitroimidazoles.

Calculate weight-based and renal- or hepatic-adjusted pediatric doses for 15 commonly prescribed agents, then verify each calculation against a current formulary and record any discrepancy.

Distinguish latent tuberculosis infection from active tuberculosis in children, selecting the appropriate regimen, duration, and monitoring plan for each and naming the agents that require baseline and serial liver enzyme testing.

Apply stewardship principles to 10 scenarios (asymptomatic bacteriuria, acute otitis media, viral upper respiratory infection, prolonged surgical prophylaxis) and justify antibiotic versus observation with explicit guideline-based criteria.

Describe the pharmacology of antimycobacterial and antistaphylococcal therapy, including rifampin drug interactions and vancomycin area-under-the-curve monitoring, and state the target trough or AUC range.

Compare the virology, diagnostic approach, and management of the major pediatric viral pathogens (respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, parainfluenza, adenovirus, herpes simplex, enteroviruses, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus) in a syndrome-based table.

Sequence the current recommended childhood immunization schedule from birth through adolescence and identify valid contraindications and precautions for each vaccine type, including live attenuated agents in immunocompromised children.

Construct catch-up immunization plans for 10 scenarios involving delayed schedules, international adoption, unknown history, and interrupted series, applying minimum intervals correctly.

Differentiate the clinical presentation of vaccine-preventable diseases in vaccinated versus unvaccinated children and explain the mechanism behind modified or attenuated presentations in partially immunized patients.

Counsel a vaccine-hesitant parent using specific, evidence-based responses to three common concerns (febrile seizure after measles-mumps-rubella-varicella, aluminum adjuvants, and multiple simultaneous injections).

Construct a ranked differential diagnosis for each major pediatric fever syndrome: fever without a source, fever of unknown origin, exanthematous illness, meningitis and encephalitis, pneumonia, bone and joint infection, urinary tract infection, and cervical lymphadenitis.

Apply age-stratified fever evaluation pathways (neonate, 1 to 3 months, 3 to 36 months) to 20 cases and identify the threshold at which empirical antibiotics and hospitalization are warranted.

Distinguish bacterial from viral meningitis using cerebrospinal fluid parameters and state the thresholds for cell count, protein, glucose ratio, and Gram stain that change management decisions.

Select appropriate imaging and empirical regimens for pediatric osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, complicated pneumonia, and retropharyngeal abscess, and state the surgical indications for each.

Design an isolation and personal protective equipment plan for eight common pediatric exposures (respiratory syncytial virus, varicella, measles, pertussis, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridioides difficile, tuberculosis, multidrug-resistant gram-negative rods).

Investigate a simulated healthcare-associated outbreak by constructing a line list, calculating attack rates by unit and exposure, and proposing tiered control measures with a timeline.

Interpret molecular and serologic results (polymerase chain reaction, immunoglobulin M and G pairs, interferon-gamma release assay, galactomannan) including window periods, false positives, and cross-reactivity, across 15 cases.

Apply standard and transmission-based precautions and hand hygiene indications to ten unit-level infection prevention scenarios, distinguishing required from optional measures.

Differentiate congenital, perinatal, and late-onset neonatal infections by timing of onset, causative organism, and clinical presentation, covering group B Streptococcus, herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, syphilis, and HIV.

Select maternal screening and neonatal prophylaxis strategies for 10 perinatal scenarios, including group B Streptococcus colonization, hepatitis B surface antigen positivity, maternal HIV, and active genital herpes.

Categorize primary immunodeficiencies by the class of infection they predispose to (antibody, T cell, phagocyte, complement) and match each to the appropriate initial immune laboratory workup.

Plan prophylaxis and immunization strategies for asplenic, neutropenic, solid organ transplant, and HIV-infected children, specifying which live vaccines are contraindicated and which antimicrobial prophylaxis is indicated.

Classify fungal pathogens (Candida species, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus, endemic dimorphic fungi, Mucorales, Pneumocystis jirovecii) by host risk factor and characteristic pediatric presentation.

Select and interpret fungal diagnostics (galactomannan, beta-D-glucan, cryptococcal antigen, histoplasma antigen, culture and histopathology) and articulate the specific limitation of each.

Differentiate the major parasitic infections of children (malaria, giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis, toxocariasis, enterobiasis, toxoplasmosis, amebiasis) by exposure history, eosinophilia pattern, and diagnostic test of choice.

Choose empirical versus targeted antifungal or antiparasitic therapy for 15 cases, accounting for drug interactions (azole and calcineurin inhibitor interactions) and required therapeutic drug monitoring.

Explain infection prevention strategies specific to the immunocompromised host, including antifungal prophylaxis thresholds, environmental precautions, and central venous catheter care.

Audit the missed-question logs from weeks 1 through 7, rank the three weakest topic areas, and complete a targeted review of each with new source material.

Complete 200 board-style questions distributed across all 10 domains under timed conditions, then write a written rationale for every incorrect item.

Rehearse rapid-recall retrieval of the antimicrobial drug matrix, the childhood immunization schedule, and the cerebrospinal fluid interpretation thresholds without reference material.

Consolidate each domain into a single high-yield summary sheet that could be reviewed in under 15 minutes per domain.