American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

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What is the abbreviation for the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine?

  1. PCV-13

  2. PPSV-23

  3. PPSV-7

  4. IPV

The correct answer is: PPSV-23

The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is abbreviated as PPSV-23. This vaccine is designed to protect against 23 serotypes of the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is known to cause pneumonia, meningitis, and bacteremia. The 23 in the abbreviation refers to the number of serotypes included in the vaccine. PCV-13 refers to the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine that covers 13 serotypes and is generally used in different populations, particularly in children. PPSV-7 is not a standard or recognized vaccine abbreviation in the context of pneumococcal vaccines, and IPV stands for inactivated poliovirus vaccine, which is unrelated to pneumococcal protection. Thus, the designation PPSV-23 accurately reflects the specific polysaccharide vaccine intended for broader adult immunization against pneumococcal disease.