Micro exams and virulence factors

[pharmer]

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So we have to memorize like a kagillion virulence factors for this next micro exam covering about 50-60 different bacterias. We use the Medical Microbiology text by Murray and our professors (really one more than the others) actually add more virulence factors and detail then even the textbook goes into (WTF!!). It such a waist of time trying to memorize all of these things b/c 1. they are not really clinically relavant 2. from what i understand Step 1 recommends not spending time trying to learn such trivia b/c its not really tested 3. I will forget them 3 days later. So I was curious to find out how the rest of you approach trying to learn such minutia or if you guys even have to do this at all.

 

[hedera916]

I can relate to this. Yuck. I hate the way the Micro department in our school creates exam questions. I sometimes feel they treat us as Microbiology majors rather than medical students. Sometimes I just memorize the virulence factors for the heck of it, for the exam. However, some of them really are important though...usually I just take note of which ones are responsible for which clinical manifestations.

 

[azzarah]

I am going to have my ID/micro exam on monday, and I can totally relate! seriously WTF? I hate Micro, i hate micro, i hate micro! Wish me luck!

 

[VienneseWaltz]

OMG, I feel your pain. Azzarah and I are in the same boat (which I think is sinking) ... this is so far beyond my capacity to memorize things. I was in tears last night at the amount of material I cannot possibly fit in my head, and it has me really worried about the boards, considering that this exam pales in comparison to the amount of crap that apparently has to stay in for step I. I know step 1 is not as detailed in micro as this exam, but putting all subjects together surely will overwhelm my pitiful mental faculties ...

 

[pharmer]

Yop H, J, E, T, Fra 1, Dr. Fimbriae, BmpA, MOMP, Tromp1, Por, Rmp,Opa, SpeA,B,C, ETA, ETB, p44, DbpA,B, p47, FimA,G,F, H, LAM, p1, p30,BtA-E................................... Jibberish table for two?

The day I actually use this stuff clinically is the day I will eat a blood pressure cuff.

 

[azzarah]

At least we are all in this together....
Viennese, you know what makes me so mad...knowing that our class avg will be a 95 or something ridiculous like that.... And don't even get me started on that DUMB review session....wtf was that????
G'luck on monday....I decided I am going to relax and study the things that I find interesting and not worry about the rest of the crap, and if I don't pass, oh well...it won't be my first time (D-bio)....


((((((HUGS)))))) for everyone and lots of good

 

[Dr. Rosenrose]

I pretty much just try to wing it. You know, try to pull answers out of my ace come test time. 😕

 

[Stinger86]

Welcome to a medical atmosphere taught by PhD's

 

[azzarah]

Took my exam F***ing exam(s) today...WTF???? The F***ing pathology exam just killed me...I hope I pass. 😱 On to immunology. I am glad that BS is over. I better not get a freaking letter in my mailbox. 😱

 

[daisygirl]

Welcome to a medical atmosphere taught by PhD's

I so don't miss reading lectures taught by phd's 👎

 

[coolness]

I feel all the pain you guys are going through. Sometimes I feel the things we're taught in detail are not clinically relevant. And the things we learn only require pure memorization, like in micro. So the people in med school that blurt out things think they're geniuses, but they're not. They're the ones that have good memories.

 

[me454555]

I feel all the pain you guys are going through. Sometimes I feel the things we're taught in detail are not clinically relevant. And the things we learn only require pure memorization, like in micro. So the people in med school that blurt out things think they're geniuses, but they're not. They're the ones that have good memories.

I hate micro for that reason. I'm no good at pure memorization. Give me concepts or something. Micro is by far my weakest subject, I feel your pain. G/L

 

[Nflow]

Same boat. Exam next Monday in Micro and Immunology. I really hate both subjects and have put them off for so long, I am in crunch time right now. HELP!!!!

 

[mattorama]

I like my micro/immuno class a lot...I am very, very glad it is taught by a practicing infectious disease doc...

 

[VienneseWaltz]

Took my exam F***ing exam(s) today...WTF???? The F***ing pathology exam just killed me...I hope I pass. 😱 On to immunology. I am glad that BS is over. I better not get a freaking letter in my mailbox. 😱

Everyone I know feels that way. I saw the first page of path questions (not bad), and thought, Hey! I get 5 points! Then I looked at the rest of the test and thought, Hey! I've still got 5 points!

At least pharm and pathophys were sort of managable ... So glad that's over!

Mattorama, we are taught by MDs, too, but the problem with "practicing" pathologists is that they don't see patients, either!

 

[Stinger86]

I like my micro/immuno class a lot...I am very, very glad it is taught by a practicing infectious disease doc...

I'm so jealous it actually makes me sick to my stomach. 🙁

On our Peds rotation, we're given weekly lectures on Infectious Disease Unknowns that are some of the best lectures I've ever had, period. Oh, if only the ID faculty could teach our Microbiology course. sigh

 

[Stinger86]

Mattorama, we are taught by MDs, too, but the problem with "practicing" pathologists is that they don't see patients, either!

All of our MD pathologists who teach are very knowledgeable toward the clinical presentation of disease; it's just too bad a lot of them can't speak the English very well.

 

[denali]

Trying to get through the bug parade right now for a test on Thursday. Decided I'm only going to concentrate on the purple boxes from Murray.

 

[Nflow]

I HHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEEEEEE Micro and Immuno. I can't stand either subject, I am procastinating by wasting time on SDN 🙁

 

[vwhan]

So I was curious to find out how the rest of you approach trying to learn such minutia or if you guys even have to do this at all.

Pharmer, I feel your pain. I have a test this Friday that covers gram +/-, fungi and parasites. On top of that there's path and pharm. I use First Aid and Micro Made Rediculously Simple. I love those books.