A 36-year-old female is bit by a raccoon and presents to the emergency department with mild trauma to her right lower extremity. Following a triage assessment, the patient's wound is cleaned and dressed. The physician verbalizes concern that the patient may have been exposed to rabies from the bite. One role of the RN is to provide education to the patient regarding rabies infection and its transmission.
-Which of the following terms most appropriately describes the role of the raccoon in the patient's exposure to infection?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A living reservoir refers to an organism that can harbor and transmit a particular infectious agent without necessarily showing signs of illness. In this scenario, the raccoon is the living reservoir for the rabies virus, as it is capable of transmitting this virus to humans through bites.

A 36-Year-Old Female Is Bit by a Raccoon and Presents