If you are a medical student, nursing student, or preparing for the USMLE Step 1, COMLEX, or even your medical school finals, you have likely heard of SketchyMicro. This popular video series uses vivid, interconnected visual mnemonics to help students memorize the vast, overwhelming world of microbiology—covering bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, as well as the antibiotics used to treat them.
But with over 100 videos spread across multiple sections, where do you start? Below is a complete, organized list of Sketchy Micro videos by category, along with the key bugs and drugs covered.
| Video Name | Key Organism / Topic | High-Yield Takeaway | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Staphylococcus Aureus | Staph aureus | Catalase positive, coagulase positive; abscesses, food poisoning, TSS. | | Staphylococcus Epidermidis | Staph epi | Coagulase negative; sticky slime layer on catheters/prosthetics. | | Saprophyticus | Staph saprophyticus | UTI in young sexually active women; novobiocin resistant. | | Streptococcus Pyogenes | Group A Strep (GAS) | Bacitracin sensitive; pharyngitis, rheumatic fever, glomerulonephritis. | | Streptococcus Agalactiae | Group B Strep (GBS) | Neonatal meningitis/sepsis; Camp test positive. | | Streptococcus Pneumoniae | Strep pneumo | Alpha hemolytic, optochin sensitive; vaccine-preventable. | | Viridans Group | Strep viridans | Alpha hemolytic; dental caries; subacute endocarditis. | | Enterococcus Faecalis/Faecium | Enterococcus | PYR positive; VRE (Vancomycin resistant). |
Let’s be honest: Medical microbiology is a nightmare of similar-sounding bugs, confusing toxins, and random capsule colors.
Enter SketchyMicro. By turning Streptococcus pyogenes into a creepy burning man and E. coli into a sewer-dwelling wizard, Sketchy has revolutionized how students memorize bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
But with over 100 videos in the current library, where do you start? How do you track what you’ve watched?
Here is the definitive SketchyMicro Videos List, broken down by category, plus pro-tips on how to use this list to crush your exams. Sketchy Micro Videos List-
The viral videos are dense. Key symbols include "The Herpes Cabin" and "The Rotavirus Firefighter."
The Sketchy Micro videos list above gives you a roadmap through one of the most high-yield resources for microbiology. While the subscription service provides the actual animated videos and quizzes, knowing which videos exist helps you plan your study schedule and track your progress.
Whether you are fighting Staphylococcus in a golden dome or chasing Plasmodium through a mosquito, Sketchy turns memorization into an unforgettable story.
Note: SketchyMicro is a paid subscription service. This list is for informational purposes and reflects the video library as of 2025. Always refer to the official Sketchy website for the most current content.
Sketchy Micro course is a visual learning tool used by medical students to memorize microbiology through "sketches" or memory palaces. The curriculum is divided into five main categories, covering approximately 100+ videos with a total runtime of roughly 14–17 hours
Below is a breakdown of the standard Sketchy Micro video list by category: 1. Bacteria If you are a medical student, nursing student,
This is the largest section, focusing on gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. Gram-Positive Cocci: Staphylococcus aureus Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A), Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B), Streptococcus pneumoniae Viridans streptococci Enterococcus Gram-Positive Rods: Bacillus anthracis Clostridium difficile Clostridium tetani Clostridium botulinum Clostridium perfringens Corynebacterium diphtheriae Listeria monocytogenes Gram-Negative Cocci: Neisseria meningitidis Neisseria gonorrhoeae Gram-Negative Rods (Enterics): Salmonella Klebsiella Enterobacter Campylobacter Helicobacter pylori Pseudomonas Gram-Negative Rods (Respiratory): Bordetella pertussis Haemophilus influenzae Legionella Pasteurella Zoonotics & Others: Francisella tularensis Yersinia pestis Leptospira Treponema pallidum (Syphilis). 2. Viruses Organized by DNA and RNA structures. DNA Viruses: Herpesviridae (HSV 1 & 2, , HHV-8), Poxvirus, Adenovirus , Papillomavirus, Polyomavirus, and Parvovirus. RNA Viruses (Positive Sense):
Picornavirus (Polio, Echo, Coxsackie, Rhino, Hepatitis A), Calicivirus (Norwalk), Flavivirus (Hepatitis C, Dengue, Yellow Fever, West Nile), (Rubella), and Coronavirus. RNA Viruses (Negative Sense): Orthomyxovirus (Influenza), Paramyxovirus (Measles, Mumps, RSV), Rhabdovirus (Rabies), Filovirus (Ebola/Marburg), Bunyavirus, Arenavirus , and Reovirus (Rotavirus). Covers systemic, opportunistic, and cutaneous mycoses. Histoplasma Blastomyces Coccidioides Paracoccidioides Cutaneous: Malassezia furfur Dermatophytes Sporothrix schenckii Opportunistic: Candida albicans Aspergillus fumigatus Cryptococcus neoformans Pneumocystis jirovecii 4. Parasites Entamoeba histolytica Cryptosporidium Toxoplasma gondii Trypanosoma brucei Leishmania Plasmodium (Malaria), and Helminths: Giant Roundworm Trematodes 5. Antimicrobials
Often categorized separately but essential to the Micro curriculum. Cell Wall Inhibitors:
Penicillins, Cephalosporins, Carbapenems, Monobactams, and Vancomycin. Protein Synthesis Inhibitors:
Aminoglycosides, Tetracyclines, Macrolides, and Clindamycin.
Fluoroquinolones, Sulfonamides, Metronidazole, and Antifungals/Antivirals. | Video Name | Key Organism / Topic
You can view the full interactive curriculum and specific lesson titles on the official Sketchy Microbiology page Anki decks that correspond to these videos?
Sketchy Microbiology | Visual Learning for Medical and PA Students
Sketchy's Microbiology course breaks down even the most difficult topics into short and easy to understand lessons.
If you are compiling a "Sketchy Micro Videos List" to organize your medical school studies, you are likely looking for a way to categorize the massive library of microbes—bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites—into a manageable curriculum.
Sketchy is the "gold standard" for medical microbiology, using the Method of Loci to turn dense clinical facts into memorable, bite-sized cartoons. Comprehensive Sketchy Micro Video Categories
A proper write-up for your list should follow the standard organizational structure used by the Sketchy Microbiology course: 1. Bacteria (The Foundation)
This is the largest section and is typically broken down by Gram stain and shape: Gram-Positive Cocci: Includes Staph aureus , Staph epidermidis , and the various Streptococcus species (e.g., " The Band of Strep Gram-Positive Bacilli: Clostridia (e.g., ), ("Santa's List"), and Gram-Negative Cocci: species. Gram-Negative Bacilli: Divided into Enterics (e.g., , Salmonella ) and Respiratory/Zoonotics (e.g., Bordetella , Pasteurella Other: Mycobacteria (TB), Spirochetes (Syphilis, Lyme), and 2. Viruses (RNA & DNA Families) Viruses are often grouped by their genome structure: RNA Viruses: Includes Picornaviridae Flaviviridae Coronaviridae DNA Viruses: Includes Herpesviridae Poxviridae Hepadnaviridae 3. Fungi (Mycology)
Categorized by systemic, opportunistic, or cutaneous infections: Systemic Mycoses: Histoplasma , Blastomyces , and Coccidioides Opportunistic: , Aspergillus , and Cryptococcus 4. Parasites (Protozoa & Helminths) 3/26/24: Master Microbiology with Sketchy