Deck 13: Mechanisms of Infection and Host Protection

Question 1

When planning a program to discuss the problem of antibiotic drug resistance in the community, the nurse should include which of the following directions?

A) Avoid the use of antibiotics unless they are necessary.
B) Take antibiotics only until the symptoms are gone.
C) Treat influenza immediately with antibiotics.
D) Take antibiotics immediately if you are feeling ill.

Answer 1

Avoid the use of antibiotics unless they are necessary.

Question 2

While monitoring community health trends, the public health nurse notes an emerging infectious disease. What condition would alert the nurse to such an occurrence?

A) The disease occurs cyclically within a population.
B) The disease is newly identified within a population.
C) The disease is regularly seen in a geographic area.
D) The disease occurs sporadically and has occurred before in a geographic area.

Answer 2

The disease is newly identified within a population.

Question 3

The staff development nurse at the hospital is teaching other nurses about the infectious process. Which statement by a nurse in the class indicates that this class participant needs further teaching about the concept of commensal microorganisms?

A) "A commensal microorganism is normal flora."
B) "These microorganisms can cause disease if they enter sterile tissues of the body."
C) "A commensal microorganism is always damaging to the host."
D) "A commensal microorganism derives benefits from the host."

Answer 3

"A commensal microorganism is always damaging to the host."

Question 4

Which strategy in the plan of care for a mechanically ventilated critically ill patient has the highest priority to reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia?

A) Suction frequently.
B) Provide mouth care.
C) Turn and position.
D) Administer antibiotics intravenously.

Question 5

When teaching a patient about ways to prevent West Nile disease, the nurse should tell the patient to avoid which vector?

A) Deer ticks
B) Mosquitoes
C) Cats
D) Dogs

Question 6

The school nurse is teaching parents of school-age children ways to avoid transmitting disease. Which portal of entry is involved in spreading disease by direct entry?

A) Ingesting infected food
B) Inhaling droplets from an infected person
C) Sharing needles
D) Entering through a wound in the skin

Question 7

When assessing a female patient with toxic shock syndrome, the nurse may suspect that the patient has recently:

A) used hyperabsorbent tampons while menstruating.
B) traveled to the Southwest of the United States.
C) experienced a tick bite.
D) eaten contaminated food.

Question 8

Which information should be included in the teaching care plan for a patient with tuberculosis (TB) in order to reduce the transmission of the disease?

A) TB is spread through sexual contact.
B) Transmission occurs from sharing utensils of a person with TB.
C) TB is transmitted by inhaling droplets from a person with TB.
D) TB can spread through breaks in the skin.

Question 9

Which finding would the nurse expect in a patient with Salmonellosis?

A) Recent ingestion of contaminated water
B) Symptoms of gastroenteritis
C) Symptoms lasting for 7 to 10 days
D) Manifestations of systemic disease

Question 10

A patient is being seen in the clinic for vaccinations and medical advice prior to traveling to an underdeveloped nation for volunteer work. Which patient statement indicates that further teaching is needed regarding the transmission of typhus?

A) "The disease may be transmitted by touching an infected object."
B) "The disease may be transmitted through humans."
C) "I should avoid drinking the water if sanitary conditions are poor."
D) "I can get typhus from contaminated food."

Question 11

Which statement indicates that a nurse's teaching to parents about childhood pneumococcal vaccination has been understood?

A) "For children older than 15 months who have not received the vaccine, the vaccine is no longer recommended."
B) "The final dose should be administered between 2 and 3 years of age."
C) "The series of vaccinations starts at 6 months."
D) "This is a series of four vaccinations."

Question 12

The nurse should expect to observe which findings in a patient during the incubation period of a viral infection?

A) A lack of symptoms
B) Nonspecific symptoms such as lethargy, fever, and headache
C) Specific symptoms associated with the virus
D) Local symptoms

Question 13

Which patients in a community clinic would the nurse recommend receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine?

A) Women younger than 30 years of age
B) Healthy men younger than 25 years of age
C) Any male who has sex with men
D) Children starting at 13 and 14 years of age

Question 14

The nurse is teaching a prenatal class about newborn immunity. Which statement by a participant requires further teaching?

A) "Newborns obtain passive immunity from the mother."
B) "Newborns obtain active immunity across the placenta."
C) "Only antibody to infections to which the mother has been exposed will transfer to the newborn."
D) "Maternal antibody provides temporary immunity to the newborn."

Question 15

A patient is concerned about getting hepatitis A from the hepatitis A vaccine. To allay this concern, the nurse explains that:

A) the pathogen is treated with a chemical so it cannot reproduce and cause illness.
B) the pathogen is grown under conditions that make is less virulent.
C) the vaccine contains purified antigens rather than whole organisms.
D) toxins are treated with chemicals to remove toxic components.

Question 16

The nurse has just received his assignment of four patients for the shift. The nurse notes that which of the following patients has a healthcare-acquired infection (HAI)?

A) A patient admitted from home with influenza
B) A nursing home resident admitted with pneumonia
C) A student admitted with measles contracted in college
D) A patient admitted from home, via ambulance, with HIV

Question 17

The nurse who removes an indwelling catheter is preventing infection by interrupting which link in the chain of infection?

A) Portal of entry
B) Infectious agent
C) Portal of exit
D) Reservoir

Question 18

The public health nurse is educating the public at a health fair about Ebola virus. Which statement by an audience member indicates that more teaching is needed?

A) "The virus is spread through contact with bodily fluids."
B) "The virus is only spread through sharing contaminated needles."
C) "The virus can be transmitted by direct contact with contaminated objects."
D) "The virus can be transmitted through inhalation of droplets."

Question 19

What findings should alert the nurse to a potential complication in a patient with Zika virus?

A) Fever and muscle aches
B) Headaches and conjunctivitis
C) Muscle weakness and difficulty breathing
D) Rash and arthralgia

Question 20

Which of the following patients should receive the Zostavax® vaccine?

A) A healthy patient over 60 years of age
B) A patient over age 60 years of age and is taking immunosuppressive drugs
C) A patient over 60 years of age with Hodgkin's lymphoma
D) A patient over 60 years of age with HIV