Question 1

Which diseases would require a nurse in Canada to complete a notifiable disease report?

Accepted Answer

Notifiable diseases are those that are required by law to be reported to the public health authorities. In Canada, the list of notifiable diseases includes AIDS, measles, pertussis, and tuberculosis among others. Therefore, the correct answer is B as all four options include at least one notifiable disease, but only option B has all notifiable diseases.

Question 2

A nurse is planning a primary prevention measure for the school-aged population against a communicable disease. What strategy best fits this goal?

Accepted Answer

Working toward achieving high immunization rates for hepatitis B is the best choice for primary prevention of a communicable disease in school-aged population. This is because immunization is the most effective primary prevention measure against communicable diseases. It is aimed at preventing the disease from occurring in the first place. In this case, achieving high immunization rates for hepatitis B will prevent the spread of the disease and protect the school-aged population from contracting it. Options A, B, and D are not primary prevention strategies for communicable diseases. Case finding, counselling, and administration of medications are secondary and tertiary prevention measures aimed at reducing the impact of the disease once it has occurred.

Question 3

Which population is at a higher risk for transmitting drug-resistant infections to others?

Accepted Answer

D

Question 4

What was the most likely causes of death in the 1900s?

Accepted Answer

In the 1900s, influenza was a leading cause of death, especially due to the 1918 flu pandemic, which caused millions of deaths worldwide.

Question 5

A nurse is screening clients at a local health centre for tuberculosis after a recent outbreak in Vancouver. Which client response would constitute an immediate quarantine and notification of the local public health department?

Accepted Answer

Contact with a person with active tuberculosis in the last 5 weeks is a high-risk factor for developing tuberculosis. Therefore, this client response warrants immediate quarantine and notification of the local public health department. Options A, B and D do not pose an immediate risk for tuberculosis and would not require immediate quarantine and notification.

Question 6

What is the key to controlling the number of people that become infected with an organism?

Accepted Answer

Preventing transmission is key to controlling the number of people who become infected with an organism. By stopping or reducing the spread of the organism, fewer people will be exposed and thus fewer will become infected. Prompt and effective treatment and recognition of signs and symptoms are important, but prevention is the most effective strategy for controlling the overall spread of a communicable disease. Timely screening can help identify cases early, but prevention of transmission is still the most effective strategy.

Question 7

Which is an example of passive surveillance?

Accepted Answer

Passive surveillance involves the routine collection of health data that is reported to health authorities without active solicitation or search. In this case, a family doctor reporting a positive case of West Nile virus to a local health authority is an example of passive surveillance because the doctor is reporting the case as part of routine health care practice, without being actively sought out for this information by the health authorities.

Question 8

At a public health travel clinic, Jasper states that he will be going to work in a developing country. Which waterborne communicable diseases does Jasper need to be vaccinated against?

Accepted Answer

Cholera and typhoid are waterborne communicable diseases that are common in developing countries. Vaccines are available to protect against both diseases. Yellow fever and malaria are mosquito-borne diseases, while rabies and rubella are not transmitted through water. Hepatitis A and B can also be spread through contaminated water, but the question specifically asks about waterborne communicable diseases.

Question 9

How long have communicable diseases been identified as a part of human life?

Accepted Answer

Communicable diseases have been mentioned in historical records dating back to ancient civilizations such as the Greeks, Egyptians, and Babylonians. Therefore, communicable diseases have been identified as a part of human life for as long as history has been recorded.

Question 10

What change had the most influence on the decline in communicable diseases?

Accepted Answer

Improvements in nutrition, sanitation, and living conditions had the most significant impact on the decline of communicable diseases by reducing the spread and improving overall health, even before vaccines and modern medical care became widespread.

Question 11

What does it mean if invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is endemic?

Accepted Answer

Endemic means that the disease is consistently present at a stable and expected level in a defined geographic area or population group.

Question 12

When must community health nurses complete notifiable disease reports?

Accepted Answer

Community health nurses must complete notifiable disease reports for specific communicable diseases that must be reported to local health officials as mandated by state and local laws. The list of reportable diseases may vary by state or locality.

Question 13

What agency in Canada is responsible for collating all the notifiable communicable disease reports?

Accepted Answer

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is responsible for collating all the notifiable communicable disease reports in Canada.

Question 14

Which of the following classification of communicable diseases represents the public health programs classification?

Accepted Answer

Public health programs often classify communicable diseases based on their mode of transmission or the type of pathogen involved, such as respiratory, zoonotic (diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans), and waterborne diseases. This classification helps in targeting specific interventions and preventive measures.

Question 15

After 2003, SARS was added to the list of diseases that people can be quarantined for in Canada. What does it mean to be quarantined?

Accepted Answer

Quarantine refers to the restriction of movement of a well person who has been exposed to an infectious agent to prevent the possible spread of disease.

Question 16

William is a Grade 9 student in British Coloumbia. The nurse has determined that William is up to date on his childhood. What vaccines will William receive today from the nurse?

Accepted Answer

In British Columbia, Canada, Grade 9 students are typically offered the Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (covering strains A, C, Y, W-135) as part of their routine immunization schedule. This vaccine is aimed at protecting against meningococcal disease, which can cause meningitis and septicemia. The other vaccines listed are generally administered at earlier stages of childhood according to the Canadian immunization schedule.

Question 17

What is a nurse today likely to encounter while working with clients with tuberculosis (TB)?

Accepted Answer

Nurses working with clients with tuberculosis are likely to encounter multi-drug-resistant strains, which require longer treatment periods and more intensive management. While chemoprophylaxis is an important prevention measure for those at risk of TB, it does not necessarily result in increased compliance among those with active disease. TB is also more commonly seen in older adults and individuals with weakened immune systems, rather than healthy young adults. While TB can be treated with antibiotics, it is not easily cured and requires strict adherence to treatment protocols to prevent drug-resistant strains from developing.

Question 18

A nurse is concerned about a recent outbreak of measles in a group of migrant workers. How would the nurse explain the concept of an outbreak to a new staff member?

Accepted Answer

An outbreak is defined as new cases of a disease that are more than the normal occurrence during a given time period. In this case, the nurse is concerned about a recent outbreak of measles in a group of migrant workers, indicating that more cases of measles have been reported than expected.

Question 19

What is the purpose of the integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS)?

Accepted Answer

The purpose of iPHIS is a reporting system that allows jurisdictions within a province to communicate disease patterns. It is used for surveillance and management of communicable diseases in Canada at the provincial and national level. Therefore, option A is the correct choice. Options B, C, and D are not accurate descriptions of iPHIS.

Question 20

What was the first recorded worldwide threat from a communicable disease?

Accepted Answer

The first recorded worldwide threat from a communicable disease was the bubonic plague, also known as the Black Death, which swept across Europe in the 14th century, killing millions of people.

Quiz 12: Communicable Diseases