Question 1

An example of a vertical transmission of a disease is through:
A) Breast milk
B) Sexual transmission
C) Mosquitoes
D) Contaminated food

Accepted Answer

Vertical transmission refers to the transmission of a disease from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. Breast milk is a common mode of vertical transmission for certain diseases, such as HIV, hepatitis B, and Zika virus.

Question 2

Many factors can influence the emergence of new diseases. Most are consequences of activities and behavior of the human hosts and environmental changes. Which of the following is a factor that can influence the emergence of new infectious diseases?
A) Increased prevention programs and trained personnel
B) Globalization of food supplies and changes in food processing and packaging
C) Decrease in sexual behavior, travel, drug use, and child care facilities
D) Peace Corps workers building sanitation systems that allow for healthier lifestyles that result in fewer diseases

Accepted Answer

Globalization of food supplies and changes in food processing and packaging can lead to the emergence of new infectious diseases as it increases the chances of exposure to new pathogens through contaminated food or water. Increased prevention programs and trained personnel (A), decrease in risky behavior (C), and sanitation systems (D) can help reduce the spread of infectious diseases, but they do not directly influence the emergence of new diseases.

Question 3

Nurses at the public health center must be knowledgeable about preventing and controlling parasitic infections. Which of the following is important for the nurse to know?
A) The medication to prescribe to treat these infections
B) The nature and symptoms of all parasitic illnesses
C) What specimens to collect and how and when to collect them
D) Public policy about parasitic infections

Accepted Answer

Nurses need to know what specimens to collect and how and when to collect them to accurately diagnose and manage parasitic infections.

Question 4

A constant presence of a disease within a population is referred to as:
A) Epidemic
B) Pandemic
C) Endemic
D) Herd immunity

Accepted Answer

Endemic refers to the constant presence of a disease within a population. Epidemic refers to a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease in a population. Pandemic refers to an epidemic that spreads globally or over a wide geographic area. Herd immunity refers to the protection conferred to a population when a sufficient number of individuals within that population become immune to a disease.

Question 5

A nurse is working in a health department when a patient arrives who has been traveling to South America. Malaria is diagnosed. The nurse knows:
A) The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report should be consulted to investigate the rate of malaria in the United States
B) This is a disease that must be reported to the state health department.
C) The nurse should take precautions to wear a mask and gown to avoid exposure.
D) The patient is very ill and should be sent to the hospital immediately.

Accepted Answer

Malaria is a notifiable disease, meaning that it must be reported to the state health department. This is important for tracking and controlling the spread of the disease. The other options are not necessary in this scenario.

Question 6

Methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is still largely a hospital-acquired infection. Community health nurses should know:
A) Persons with MRSA usually have a chronic illness.
B) MRSA is still a nosocomial (health-care acquired) infection and not often seen in the community.
C) VRE (Vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) follows MRSA.
D) MRSA is becoming more common in the community, especially in school athletic programs and prison populations.

Accepted Answer

MRSA is becoming more common in community settings, particularly among athlete populations, prisoners, and those who have close contact with others in crowded settings (such as military barracks). It is important for community health nurses to educate their patients about proper hygiene practices and to be aware of the signs and symptoms of MRSA infection.

Question 7

The term used to describe the occurrence of one case of smallpox in a population in which it was considered to be previously eliminated is:
A) Endemic
B) Epidemic
C) Pandemic
D) Infectivity

Accepted Answer

An epidemic refers to the occurrence of cases of a disease in a population where it was previously eliminated or not expected.

Question 8

Nosocomial or health-care acquired infections are those acquired during hospitalization or within a hospital setting. What is the best method for preventing these infections?
A) Good hand washing before and after approaching every patient.
B) These infections cannot be avoided these days because of the high rates of infection of the general public.
C) Isolate every patient having surgery.
D) Use contact isolation for every patient at risk.

Accepted Answer

Good hand washing practices are the most effective way to prevent the spread of nosocomial infections. This includes washing hands before and after coming into contact with every patient or their surroundings. Isolation and contact precautions are important for patients who are already infected, but hand washing is the most important measure to prevent the spread of infection in the first place. Option B is incorrect as there are a plethora of measures to avoid these infections, and option C and D do not apply to every patient, and they are not the best methods to prevent healthcare-associated infections overall.

Question 9

An example of an agent is:
A) Host resistance
B) Viruses
C) Infectiousness
D) Bug bites

Accepted Answer

Viruses are examples of agents because they are the causative agents of many infectious diseases. Host resistance and infectiousness refer to aspects of the host, while bug bites are not an agent but rather a mode of transmission for certain agents.

Question 10

The transference of antibodies from mother to infant is known as:
A) Active immunity
B) Passive immunity
C) Natural immunity
D) Horizontal transmission

Accepted Answer

The transference of antibodies from mother to infant is known as passive immunity, as the infant is not producing their own antibodies. This form of immunity is passed from the mother to the infant through breastmilk or the placenta during pregnancy. Active immunity refers to when the body produces its own antibodies in response to an antigen. Natural immunity refers to the immunity obtained through exposure to the infectious agent in the natural environment. Horizontal transmission refers to the spread of disease from one individual to another through direct or indirect contact.

Question 11

An example of a vector is:
A) Contaminated water
B) A tick
C) A dirty needle
D) An infected person

Accepted Answer

The answer of An example of a vector is:
A) Contaminated...

Question 12

The aim to remove a disease from a large geographic area is called:
A) Prevention
B) Control
C) Elimination
D) Eradication

Accepted Answer

Elimination refers to the removal of a disease from a large geographic area or region, typically through control measures such as vaccination and other interventions. This means that the disease may still be present in other areas but is no longer considered a public health threat in the target region. Eradication, on the other hand, refers to the complete global extinction of a disease, such as was achieved with smallpox. While eradication is the ultimate goal for some diseases, such as polio, elimination is a more feasible and practical goal for many others. Therefore, the aim to remove a disease from a large geographic area is called elimination.

Question 13

Immunity is a characteristic of the:
A) Agent factor
B) Host factor
C) Environmental factor
D) Epidemiologic triad

Accepted Answer

Immunity is a characteristic of the host factor in the epidemiologic triad. The host factor includes any biological, psychological, or social characteristic of individuals or populations that may influence their exposure or susceptibility to a specific health condition. Immunity refers to the ability of the host to resist infection or disease caused by microorganisms or other harmful agents.

Question 14

The nurse teaches food handlers to wash utensils after contact with raw meat. This prevention focuses on the:
A) Agent
B) Host
C) Environment
D) Food handler

Accepted Answer

Washing utensils after contact with raw meat is an environmental control measure to prevent cross-contamination and the spread of pathogens.

Question 15

Enterobiasis (pinworm) is the most common helminthic infection in the United States. Pinworm infection is seen most often among children and is most prevalent in crowded and institutional settings. A community health nurse investigates an outbreak at a local day care center. What suggestions would the nurse give the day care workers?
A) Close the day care until all surfaces are cleaned.
B) No action is necessary because it is easily treated with oral vermicides.
C) Use good hand washing to prevent the transmission as it is spread through the fecal-oral route.
D) Every child in the day care should be treated because they all are probably infected.

Accepted Answer

The best suggestion for the day care workers is to practice good hand washing techniques to prevent the transmission of pinworm infection, as it is spread through the fecal-oral route. Closing the day care until all surfaces are cleaned is not necessary, and not every child in the day care is likely infected, so treating all children is not necessary. While oral vermicides can be effective in treating pinworm infection, this is not the best suggestion for preventing further spread of the infection.

Question 16

Requirements for disease reporting in the United States are mandated by:
A) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
B) Federal laws
C) State laws and regulations
D) County health departments

Accepted Answer

Disease reporting requirements in the United States are primarily mandated by state laws and regulations, which may be informed by guidelines from the CDC.

Question 17

The time interval between invasion by an infectious agent and the first appearance of signs and symptoms of the disease is called:
A) Communicable period
B) Incubation period
C) Infectiousness
D) Pathologic reaction

Accepted Answer

The time interval described in the question is the incubation period, which refers to the time between exposure to an infectious agent and the first appearance of clinical symptoms.

A) Communicable period refers to the time during which an infected person can transmit the infection to others. 
C) Infectiousness refers to the ability of an infectious agent to cause infection or disease. 
D) Pathologic reaction refers to the way in which the body responds to a disease or infection, such as inflammation, tissue damage, or immune response.

Question 18

Vaccines are one of the most important methods of controlling and preventing communicable diseases. Because many children receive their immunizations at public health departments, nurses play a major role in the effort to increase immunization coverage of infants and toddlers. Which of the following is often a role of public health nurses?
A) Reading the Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report to investigate new vaccines that are available
B) Requiring that children have all their immunizations before going to public school
C) Tracking children known to be at risk for underimmunization
D) Leading teams of health care workers to enforce laws related to immunizations

Accepted Answer

Public health nurses often track and follow up with children who may be at risk for underimmunization. This helps to increase immunization coverage and prevent the spread of communicable diseases. A is incorrect because while nurses may read the Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report, it is not necessarily a specific role they play in increasing immunization coverage. B is incorrect because public school requirements for immunization vary by state and are often set by lawmakers and school officials, not nurses. D is incorrect because nurses do not typically lead teams to enforce laws related to immunizations, although they may provide education and support to help enforce these laws.

Question 19

Although infectious diseases may not be the leading cause of death in the United States, they continue to present varied, multiple, and complex challenges to all health care providers. What role do nurses play in infectious disease management?
A) Nurses are often involved in the eradication of these diseases.
B) Nurses must know about these diseases to effectively participate in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and control.
C) Health care providers rely on nurses to diagnose these diseases.
D) Nurses are involved in public policy matters related to these diseases.

Accepted Answer

Nurses must have a good understanding of infectious diseases to be able to participate effectively in all aspects of disease management including diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and control. They also play a crucial role in educating patients and the public about infectious disease prevention and control measures.

Question 20

Foodborne illness or "food poisoning" is often categorized as either food infection or food intoxication. Food intoxication is caused by:
A) Toxins produced by bacterial growth and chemical contaminants
B) Bacterial, viral, or parasitic invasion of food
C) Overcooking of meat and produce
D) Adding too many spices or ingredients to food

Accepted Answer

The answer of Foodborne illness or "food poisoning" is often...

Quiz 37: Infectious Disease Prevention and Control

An example of a vertical transmission of a disease is through:

Many factors can influence the emergence of new diseases. Most are consequences of activities and behavior of the human hosts and environmental changes. Which of the following is a factor that can influence the emergence of new infectious diseases?

Nurses at the public health center must be knowledgeable about preventing and controlling parasitic infections. Which of the following is important for the nurse to know?

A constant presence of a disease within a population is referred to as:

A nurse is working in a health department when a patient arrives who has been traveling to South America. Malaria is diagnosed. The nurse knows:

Methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is still largely a hospital-acquired infection. Community health nurses should know:

The term used to describe the occurrence of one case of smallpox in a population in which it was considered to be previously eliminated is:

Nosocomial or health-care acquired infections are those acquired during hospitalization or within a hospital setting. What is the best method for preventing these infections?

An example of an agent is:

The transference of antibodies from mother to infant is known as:

An example of a vector is:

The aim to remove a disease from a large geographic area is called:

Immunity is a characteristic of the:

The nurse teaches food handlers to wash utensils after contact with raw meat. This prevention focuses on the:

Requirements for disease reporting in the United States are mandated by:

The time interval between invasion by an infectious agent and the first appearance of signs and symptoms of the disease is called:

Although infectious diseases may not be the leading cause of death in the United States, they continue to present varied, multiple, and complex challenges to all health care providers. What role do nurses play in infectious disease management?

Foodborne illness or "food poisoning" is often categorized as either food infection or food intoxication. Food intoxication is caused by: