Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

Vaccines using inactivated pathogens primarily stimulate humoral immunity, which produces antibodies, whereas vaccines using attenuated pathogens also stimulate cell-mediated immunity, which involves T cells and is important for clearing viral infections.

Question 2

Most organisms that cause health-care-associated infections come from endogenous sources.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Most organisms that cause health-care-associated infections come...

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

All of the choices are valid methods for reducing or eliminating the source of an infection. Treatment of sewage can prevent water contamination and the spread of waterborne diseases. Destruction of vectors through insecticide spraying can reduce the transmission of diseases by insects like mosquitoes, ticks, and flies, which can carry pathogens. Destruction of animal reservoirs, such as culling infected herds or vaccinating animals, can prevent the spread of diseases from animals to humans.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

The term "communicable" refers to the ability of an organism to be transmitted from one host to another. Choice A) infective refers to the ability of an organism to cause infection, but does not necessarily imply transmission. Choice B) virulent refers to the severity of the disease caused by an organism, but again does not necessarily imply transmission. Choice C) pathogenic refers to the ability of an organism to cause disease, but does not necessarily imply transmission. Therefore, the best choice is D) communicable.

Question 5

__________ are the leading cause of health-care-associated diseases.

Accepted Answer

Bacteria are the most common cause of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), accounting for approximately 36% of cases. These infections can result from a variety of factors, including invasive procedures, exposure to contaminated surfaces and equipment, and colonization with antibiotic-resistant strains. Effective infection control measures, including hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, and the appropriate use of antibiotics, can help prevent the spread of these dangerous bacteria in healthcare settings.

Question 6

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 to be a health-care-associated infection.

Accepted Answer

An infection that was incubating at the time of admission is considered a community-acquired infection, not a health-care-associated infection, even if symptoms appear during the hospital stay.

Question 7

Which of the following is considered a newly emerging disease?

Accepted Answer

All of the choices listed are considered newly emerging diseases. Escherichia coli O157:H7, Cryptosporidiosis, and Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome have all gained attention in recent decades due to outbreaks and the recognition of their impact on human health.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

The birth of new individuals and migration of individuals into the population are both mechanisms by which new susceptible individuals enter a population. Immune system enhancements through immunization do not introduce new susceptible individuals, but rather protect existing individuals from becoming susceptible.

Question 9

Chlorination of water supplies represents an epidemiological technique directed at

Accepted Answer

Chlorination of water supplies is done to eliminate sources of infection, such as harmful bacteria and viruses. It is a technique used to make water safe for human consumption by killing any harmful microorganisms that may be present in it.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of The immediate location from which a disease-causing...

Question 11

The most common types of health-care-associated infections are

Accepted Answer

Urinary tract infections are the most common type of health-care-associated infection, accounting for approximately 30% of all such infections. Other common types include surgical site infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia.

Question 12

The Centers for Disease Control estimate that __________ of all hospital patients acquire some type of health-care-associated infection.

Accepted Answer

About 5 percent of all hospital patients acquire some type of health-care-associated infection, according to estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These infections can occur as a result of the care they receive in a healthcare setting and are a significant concern for patient safety.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

The term "reservoir" refers to the natural environmental location where the causative organism of a disease is normally found. This could include sources like soil, water, or animals, but the term reservoir specifically refers to the location where the pathogen can be found and potentially transmitted to a susceptible host.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

Antigenic drift refers to minor changes or mutations in the genes of a pathogen that can lead to changes in its surface proteins (antigens). Major, genetically determined changes in the antigenic character of a pathogen are referred to as antigenic shift.

Question 15

Health-care-associated infections may develop within any health care facility.

Accepted Answer

Health-care-associated infections (HAIs) can occur in any type of health care facility, including hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and outpatient settings. Patients in these settings may be at increased risk for infections due to weakened immune systems, invasive procedures, and exposure to other sick patients. Preventing and controlling HAIs is an important part of infection control measures in health care settings.

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

Active immunization involves inducing an immune response against a specific pathogen through vaccination. If a large enough proportion of a population is immunized, the transmission of the disease is disrupted, resulting in herd immunity. Therefore, active immunization can raise the general level of herd immunity in a population.

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

All of the choices listed contribute to the emergence of new diseases. Rapid transportation systems and the mobility of the population can lead to the spread of diseases across regions and even continents. Ecological disruption, such as the loss of predators, can lead to an increase in populations of disease-carrying animals. Destruction of rainforests can increase the likelihood of humans coming into contact with new pathogens. Increased drug usage and sexual promiscuity can lead to the spread of sexually transmitted infections and drug-resistant strains of bacteria.

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

Adjuvants are added to vaccines to enhance the magnitude and duration of the immune response to the antigens they contain. This results in a more robust and long-lasting immune response to the vaccine, leading to greater protection against the targeted disease. Common adjuvants used in vaccines include aluminum salts, squalene, and MF59.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of The location where a disease-causing organism is...

Question 20

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/an _________.

Accepted Answer

A carrier is an infected individual who is capable of transmitting the disease to others, but may not display symptoms themselves. They play a crucial role in the spread of certain diseases. Reservoirs are the natural environment for a pathogen to survive and multiply, whereas hosts refer to organisms that are infected by the pathogen. An index case is the first case of a disease in an outbreak that is detected and reported.

Quiz 37: Epidemiology and Public Health Microbiology