Deck 37: Epidemiology and Public Health Microbiology

Question 1

The sudden increase in the occurrence of a disease above the expected level is called

A)sporadic.
B)hyperendemic.
C)endemic.
D)an epidemic.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

A __________ rate measures the number of individuals who become ill as a result of a specific disease within a susceptible population during a specific time period.

A)prevalence
B)morbidity
C)mortality
D)index

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The first epidemiologist was

A)Robert Koch.
B)Louis Pasteur.
C)John Snow.
D)Edward Jenner.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The science of epidemiology

A)evaluates the control of disease in a defined population.
B)evolved in relation to the great epidemic diseases.
C)embraces all diseases.
D)all of these

Question 5

A(n)__________ is an increase in disease occurrence within a large population over a very wide region (usually the world).

A)endemic
B)pandemic
C)epidemic
D)sporadic disease

Question 6

The __________ rate refers to the total number of individuals infected at any one time regardless of when the disease began.

A)prevalence
B)morbidity
C)mortality
D)index

Question 7

Public health surveillance is the proactive evaluation of

A)genetic background.
B)environmental conditions.
C)human behaviors and lifestyle choices.
D)emerging infectious agents.
E)all of the choices

Question 8

An epidemic is

A)a disease that maintains a steady low level frequency.
B)when a disease occurs occasionally and at erratic intervals in the human population.
C)a sudden increase in the occurrence of a disease above the expected level.
D)a sudden unexpected occurrence of a disease in a limited segment of a population.

Question 9

The sudden,unexpected occurrence of a disease in a limited segment of a population is called a(n)

A)outbreak.
B)incident.
C)epidemic.
D)sporadic disease.

Question 10

After an infectious disease has been identified in a population,the next step is to correlate the disease outbreak with a specific organism.

Question 11

The __________ rate is the relationship of the number of deaths from a given disease to the total number of cases of the disease.

A)prevalence
B)morbidity
C)mortality
D)index

Question 12

Diseases of animals that can be transmitted to humans are called

A)animal and human diseases.
B)zoonoses.
C)communicable diseases.
D)contagious diseases.

Question 13

An infectious disease may

A)be mild.
B)be severe.
C)kill the host.
D)all of the choices

Question 14

When a disease maintains a relatively steady,low-level frequency at a moderately regular interval,it is called

A)sporadic.
B)hyperendemic.
C)endemic.
D)an epidemic.

Question 15

Surveillance of health issues is typically accomplished by two methods: population surveys and antibiotic treatment.

Question 16

Which type of epidemic usually results from a single contaminated source such as food?

A)propagated
B)common-source
C)herd
D)sporadic

Question 17

The first case in an epidemic is called the

A)break case.
B)index case.
C)prime case.
D)alpha case.

Question 18

Living transmitters of an infectious organism from one host to another are called __________.

Question 19

A __________ epidemic is characterized by a relatively slow and prolonged rise then a gradual decline in the number of individuals infected.

A)propagated
B)common-source
C)herd
D)sporadic

Question 20

A __________ epidemic is characterized by a sharp rise to a peak then a rapid,but not as pronounced,decline in the number of individuals infected.

A)propagated
B)common-source
C)herd
D)sporadic

Question 21

Most organisms that cause nosocomial infections come from endogenous sources.

Question 22

Which of the following contributes to the emergence of new diseases?

A)Rapid transportation systems and the mobility of the population.
B)Ecological disruption such as the loss of predators and the destruction of rain forests.
C)Increased drug usage and sexual promiscuity.
D)All of the choices.

Question 23

A major,genetically determined change in the antigenic character of a pathogen is called antigenic drift.

Question 24

The Centers for Disease Control estimate that __________ of all hospital patients acquire some type of nosocomial infection.

A)about 1%
B)about 10%
C)about 20%
D)about 50%

Question 25

__________ are the leading cause of nosocomial diseases.

A)Bacteria
B)Viruses
C)Protozoa
D)Fungi

Question 26

Active immunization of a population will raise the general level of herd immunity.

Question 27

The most common nosocomial infections are

A)respiratory tract infections.
B)urinary tract infections.
C)gastrointestinal tract infections.
D)skin infections.

Question 28

Which of the following is used to reduce or eliminate the source of an infection?

A)Treatment of sewage to reduce water contamination.
B)Destruction of vectors by spraying insecticides.
C)Destruction of an animal reservoir of the infectious agent.
D)All of the choices are used to reduce or eliminate the source of an infection.

Question 29

Which of the following is a mechanism by which new susceptible individuals enter a population?

A)Birth of new individuals.
B)Migration of individuals into the population.
C)Enhancement of immune systems through immunization.
D)Birth of new individuals and migration of individuals into the population.

Question 30

Which type of epidemic usually results from the introduction of a single infected individual into a susceptible population?

A)propagated
B)common-source
C)herd
D)sporadic

Question 31

The immediate location from which a disease-causing organism is transmitted to a host either directly or through an intermediate is called the __________.

Question 32

Chlorination of water supplies represents an epidemiological technique directed at

A)eliminating susceptible individuals.
B)eliminating sources of infection.
C)sterilizing water.
D)improving the palatability of water.

Question 33

The location where a disease-causing organism is normally found is called the __________.

Question 34

The site or natural environmental location in which the causative organism is normally found is called the

A)reservoir.
B)source.
C)carrier.
D)animate phase.

Question 35

An organism that is able to be transmitted from one host to another is said to be

A)infective.
B)virulent.
C)pathogenic.
D)communicable.

Question 36

An infected individual who is a potential source of infection for others and plays an important role in the epidemiology of the disease is a

A)carrier.
B)reservoir.
C)host.
D)index case.

Question 37

Which of the following is considered a newly emerging disease?

A)Escherichia coli O157:H7
B)Cryptosporidiosis
C)Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome
D)All of the choices

Question 38

An infection that is incubating in a patient at the time of admission and which develops clinical symptoms during the patient's stay in a health care facility is not considered nosocomial.

Question 39

___________ immunity is an epidemiological concept that explains the resistance of a population to infection and the spread of an infectious organism due to the immunity of a high percentage of the population.

A)Natural
B)Experimental
C)Herd
D)Innate

Question 40

Nosocomial infections are ones that develop within any health care facility.

Question 41

Precautions that can be taken by individuals to prevent travel-related infectious diseases include

A)wash hands with soap and water frequently.
B)get or update vaccinations appropriate for specific destinations.
C)take antibiotics prophylactically for potential bacterial infections.
D)wash hands with soap and water frequently and get or update vaccinations appropriate for specific destinations.
E)wash hands with soap and water frequently,get or update vaccinations appropriate for specific destinations,and take antibiotics prophylactically for potential bacterial infections.

Question 42

The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act identifies select agents and categorizes them as either level 1,2,or 3.

Question 43

Vaccines using inactivated pathogens do not stimulate cell-mediated immunity as effectively as vaccines using attenuated pathogens.

Question 44

The intentional or threatened use of viruses,bacteria,fungi,or toxins from living organisms to produce death or disease in humans,animals,and plants is known as

A)chemical warfare.
B)bioterrorism.
C)zoonosis.
D)all of the choices

Question 45

Antigens in vaccines are mixed with an adjuvant to enhance the rate and degree of immunization.

Question 46

It is likely that an act of _________ will be defined by a sudden spike in an unusual disease reported to the public health system.