Question 1

A 78-year-old male presents to the emergency department reporting a 2-day history of difficulty breathing, cough, and chest pain. Upon triage assessment, the patient is found to have a fever, rapid rate of breathing, low oxygen saturation, and crackles upon auscultation of the lungs. A chest X-ray reveals consolidation in the right upper lung field. The patient is diagnosed with pneumonia, initiated on oxygen therapy, and admitted for observation and treatment.
-The patient's sputum culture returns a positive result for Streptococcus pneumoniae.As the RN,you are aware this capsule-forming bacterium possesses virulence factors to make it difficult to treat.In providing education to the patient regarding the disease process,which of the following statements is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Streptococcus pneumoniae causes pneumonia primarily through an inflammatory response, leading to fluid accumulation in the lungs. The capsule helps the bacteria evade phagocytosis, contributing to the inflammatory process rather than direct toxin production or cell wall fragments causing damage.

Question 2

The virus that causes rabies,and the rhinovirus that causes the common cold are both considered true pathogens; the degree of pathogenicity is determined by their ________.

Accepted Answer

Virulence is a measure of the severity of a disease caused by a pathogen. Therefore, the degree of pathogenicity of a virus is determined by its virulence. The protein coat and envelope are physical structures of the virus, while infectivity refers to the ability of the virus to infect cells.

Question 3

As an RN with the infectious disease team, you are providing an education course to new graduate nurses regarding the process of infection control and prevention.
-As the RN,you educate the new nurses about the prevalence of healthcare-associated infections.All of the following are frequent sources of patient infection,except ________.

Accepted Answer

Hospital beds are not a frequent source of patient infection, while urinary catheters, endotracheal tubes, and surgical incisions are common sources of healthcare-associated infections.

Question 4

As an RN with the infectious disease team, you are providing an education course to new graduate nurses regarding the process of infection control and prevention.
-Which of the following statements by a new nurse demonstrates understanding of the cause of infectious disease?

Accepted Answer

Option A is incorrect as not all contact with infectious material leads to colonization, as there are some organisms that can be carried in the body without causing harm. Option B is incorrect as not all colonization leads to infection, as there are some microorganisms that can colonize the body but do not cause an active infection. Option C is incorrect as not all infections lead to disease, as there are some asymptomatic infections. Option D is correct as the interplay between host resistance and organism pathogenicity determines the type and severity of infection an individual will experience.

Question 5

All of the following statements are true regarding discoveries made by the Human Microbiome Project except

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. The microbiome does contain some pathogens, although their numbers are typically low in healthy individuals.

Question 6

Robert Koch is credited with proving the germ theory of disease; that infectious diseases are caused by specific microorganisms.  In developing a series of proofs (Koch's Postulates),he was able to determine the causative organism of anthrax was the bacteria Bacillus anthracis.  Which of the following statements does not contribute to Koch's Postulates and the germ theory of disease?

Accepted Answer

This statement is not part of Koch's Postulates. The postulates do not address polymicrobial infections or the isolation of multiple organisms from a single host.

Question 7

In 2003 over 500 people throughout the United States became ill with hepatitis A that was traced to green onions grown in Mexico.  This is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

A common-source epidemic occurs when a group of people are all exposed to an infectious agent or toxin from the same source, as was the case with the hepatitis A outbreak traced to contaminated green onions.

Question 8

87 people developed diarrhea,fever and abdominal cramps in the aftermath of a wedding.  On diagnosis it was determined that they were suffering from salmonella,and after taking their histories,they all reported that they had eaten the chicken at the reception.  This is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

A point-source epidemic is when a large number of people are suddenly infected after being exposed to a common source of a pathogen for a brief period of time. In this case, the common source was the chicken served at the wedding reception, which resulted in the outbreak of the disease among the attendees. The symptoms also support the diagnosis of salmonella, which is commonly associated with food contamination. The other options, such as propagated epidemic, pandemic, and endemic disease, do not accurately describe the characteristics of this outbreak.

Question 9

While one person's microbiome differs when compared to another person,one individual's microbiome is uniform throughout the body; for example,the organisms on the left hand will be the same as the organisms on the right.

Accepted Answer

While there may be similarities, a person's microbiome can vary in different parts of the body based on factors such as pH level, oxygen availability, and other environmental conditions. Therefore, the organisms on the left hand may not necessarily be the same as the organisms on the right.

Question 10

Nowadays,HIV infection is considered a chronic disease,rather than the death sentence it was when it first emerged in the 1980s.  Educational strategies to limit transmission,coupled with advances in treatment,means that compared to 1985,

Accepted Answer

The incidence of HIV has dropped due to better prevention and education, while the prevalence has increased because people with HIV are living longer due to advances in treatment.

Question 11

In a comparison of two pathogens,organism A has an infectious dose of 200,000 organisms,whereas organism B has an infectious dose of 15 organisms.  This means that organism A is much more pathogenic than organism B.

Accepted Answer

Organism B is actually much more pathogenic than organism A because it has a much lower infectious dose, meaning that it takes much fewer organisms of organism B to cause an infection compared to organism A.

Question 12

A 78-year-old male presents to the emergency department reporting a 2-day history of difficulty breathing, cough, and chest pain. Upon triage assessment, the patient is found to have a fever, rapid rate of breathing, low oxygen saturation, and crackles upon auscultation of the lungs. A chest X-ray reveals consolidation in the right upper lung field. The patient is diagnosed with pneumonia, initiated on oxygen therapy, and admitted for observation and treatment.
-As the emergency department RN,you document the care and assessment of the patient in the chart prior to transfer to an inpatient unit.What is the most appropriate term for the clinical manifestations of disease as reported by the patient?

Accepted Answer

Symptoms are the subjective experiences reported by the patient, such as difficulty breathing, cough, and chest pain. Signs are objective findings that can be observed or measured, such as a fever, rapid rate of breathing, low oxygen saturation, and crackles upon auscultation of the lungs. Syndromes refer to a group of signs and symptoms that occur together and are characteristic of a particular disease or condition. In this case, the patient is experiencing symptoms and signs of pneumonia, but this does not constitute a syndrome. Therefore, the most appropriate term for the patient's clinical manifestations is "symptoms."

Question 13

The spread of influenza,which is particularly widespread during the winter months,is an example of a propagated epidemic.

Accepted Answer

A propagated epidemic is one that is spread from person to person, usually through direct contact. Influenza is an example of this type of epidemic, as it is highly contagious and spreads easily from one person to another. In contrast, a common-source epidemic is one that is caused by exposure to a single source, such as contaminated food or water.

Question 14

A 78-year-old male presents to the emergency department reporting a 2-day history of difficulty breathing, cough, and chest pain. Upon triage assessment, the patient is found to have a fever, rapid rate of breathing, low oxygen saturation, and crackles upon auscultation of the lungs. A chest X-ray reveals consolidation in the right upper lung field. The patient is diagnosed with pneumonia, initiated on oxygen therapy, and admitted for observation and treatment.
-Upon admission to the inpatient unit,a respiratory sputum culture and blood culture are sent.Prior to obtaining the blood culture,you provide education to the patient.Which of the following statements,by the patient,best demonstrates understanding of the rationale for the blood culture?

Accepted Answer

Blood cultures are done to determine if the microbe causing the infection is present and multiplying in the bloodstream, putting the patient at risk for sepsis or septicemia. It is not used to determine the specific bacterium or virus causing the infection or whether it has spread to other body tissues.

Question 15

Virulence differs from pathogenicity in that pathogenicity describes the ability of an organism to cause disease,whereas virulence describes the degree of pathogenicity as the disease develops.

Accepted Answer

Pathogenicity and virulence are related concepts, but they are not interchangeable. Pathogenicity refers to the ability of an organism to cause disease, while virulence describes the severity of the disease caused by the organism. A highly virulent organism may cause a more severe disease than a low-virulence one, even if both are pathogenic.

Question 16

It is important to understand the extent and significance of polymicrobial infections,since treating an infection with a single antibiotic for an assumed causative organism may not adequately eliminate the infection.

Accepted Answer

Polymicrobial infections involve multiple organisms causing an infection, and treating with a single antibiotic may not be effective in eliminating all organisms involved. Therefore, it is important to understand the extent and significance of these types of infections to properly treat and manage them.

Question 17

Tooth decay develops when human saliva and proteins aggregate on the tooth and provide a hospitable surface for a range of microbial species to develop into a biofilm.  These organisms ferment carbohydrates and the acid byproducts erode the enamel,forming caries.  Tooth decay is therefore considered to be  ________.

Accepted Answer

Tooth decay involves the growth of multiple microbial species on the tooth surface, making it a polymicrobial infection.

Question 18

A 78-year-old male presents to the emergency department reporting a 2-day history of difficulty breathing, cough, and chest pain. Upon triage assessment, the patient is found to have a fever, rapid rate of breathing, low oxygen saturation, and crackles upon auscultation of the lungs. A chest X-ray reveals consolidation in the right upper lung field. The patient is diagnosed with pneumonia, initiated on oxygen therapy, and admitted for observation and treatment.
-You are diligent to prevent the spread of disease to other patients.Which of the following is the most appropriate type of isolation for this patient,considering the portal of exit for the pathogen in this case?

Accepted Answer

The patient's symptoms suggest that the most likely pathogen responsible for the pneumonia is a virus or bacteria that spreads through droplets generated during coughing or sneezing, which can then be inhaled by others. Therefore, droplet isolation, which includes a gown, gloves, and mask, would be the most appropriate type of isolation to prevent the spread of the disease to other patients. Standard isolation (only gloves) would not be sufficient, while contact or airborne isolation would be excessive measures for this type of infection.

Question 19

A 78-year-old male presents to the emergency department reporting a 2-day history of difficulty breathing, cough, and chest pain. Upon triage assessment, the patient is found to have a fever, rapid rate of breathing, low oxygen saturation, and crackles upon auscultation of the lungs. A chest X-ray reveals consolidation in the right upper lung field. The patient is diagnosed with pneumonia, initiated on oxygen therapy, and admitted for observation and treatment.
-As the RN,you document the care and assessment of the patient in the chart prior to transfer to an inpatient unit.What is the most appropriate term for the clinical manifestations of disease as noted in your assessment?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A 78-year-old male presents to the emergency...

Question 20

If an infectious disease emerged that was highly contagious and virulent,resulting in certain death with no known cure,epidemiological data would show

Accepted Answer

The answer of If an infectious disease emerged that was...

Quiz 11: Interactions Between Microbes and Humans

The virus that causes rabies,and the rhinovirus that causes the common cold are both considered true pathogens; the degree of pathogenicity is determined by their ________.

As an RN with the infectious disease team, you are providing an education course to new graduate nurses regarding the process of infection control and prevention. -Which of the following statements by a new nurse demonstrates understanding of the cause of infectious disease?

All of the following statements are true regarding discoveries made by the Human Microbiome Project except

In 2003 over 500 people throughout the United States became ill with hepatitis A that was traced to green onions grown in Mexico. This is an example of ________.

87 people developed diarrhea,fever and abdominal cramps in the aftermath of a wedding. On diagnosis it was determined that they were suffering from salmonella,and after taking their histories,they all reported that they had eaten the chicken at the reception. This is an example of ________.

While one person's microbiome differs when compared to another person,one individual's microbiome is uniform throughout the body; for example,the organisms on the left hand will be the same as the organisms on the right.

Nowadays,HIV infection is considered a chronic disease,rather than the death sentence it was when it first emerged in the 1980s. Educational strategies to limit transmission,coupled with advances in treatment,means that compared to 1985,

In a comparison of two pathogens,organism A has an infectious dose of 200,000 organisms,whereas organism B has an infectious dose of 15 organisms. This means that organism A is much more pathogenic than organism B.

The spread of influenza,which is particularly widespread during the winter months,is an example of a propagated epidemic.

Virulence differs from pathogenicity in that pathogenicity describes the ability of an organism to cause disease,whereas virulence describes the degree of pathogenicity as the disease develops.

It is important to understand the extent and significance of polymicrobial infections,since treating an infection with a single antibiotic for an assumed causative organism may not adequately eliminate the infection.

If an infectious disease emerged that was highly contagious and virulent,resulting in certain death with no known cure,epidemiological data would show