Bronchiectasis: ABFM practice questions

4 board-style questions on bronchiectasis in the PulseMD family medicine question bank — physician-reviewed, written against current guidelines with the reference cited on each question. Two free samples below; the full set with answers, explanations, and spaced review is free to start.

Sample question 1

A 58-year-old man with a history of bronchiectasis presents to the emergency department coughing up large volumes of bright red blood. He estimates approximately 300 mL of blood in the past 2 hours. He is hemodynamically stable but anxious. Oxygen saturation is 92% on room air. A prior CT scan documented left lower lobe bronchiectasis. Which of the following is the most critical immediate intervention while awaiting definitive management?

  1. Emergent surgical lobectomy of the left lower lobe
  2. Administer IV tranexamic acid and begin massive transfusion protocol
  3. Perform emergent rigid bronchoscopy for clot removal and lavage
  4. Position the patient with the left (bleeding) side down and intubate with a large single-lumen endotracheal tube if airway compromise develops

Sample question 2

A 67-year-old thin woman with no significant smoking history presents with a chronic cough productive of scant sputum, fatigue, and unintentional weight loss of 5 kg over 6 months. CT chest reveals nodular bronchiectasis predominantly in the right middle lobe and lingula, with scattered tree-in-bud opacities. Sputum cultures grow acid-fast bacilli identified as Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). Which of the following best describes the recommended treatment approach for this presentation?

  1. Isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol for 6 months (standard TB regimen)
  2. Azithromycin, ethambutol, and rifampin for 12 months after culture conversion
  3. Azithromycin monotherapy for 12 months
  4. Observation without treatment, as MAC in sputum represents colonization rather than disease

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