Question 1

A nurse is investigating the role of the agent in the cause of an illness.Which of the following best describes what the nurse is examining?

Accepted Answer

An agent is described by its ability to cause disease and the nature and the severity of the disease.The four major categories of agents are: (1)bacteria,(2)parasites,(3)fungi,and (4)viruses.Host resilience is a host factor.Infectiousness is the measure of the potential ability of an infected host to transmit the infection to other hosts.Environmental factors facilitate the transmission of an infectious agent from an infected host to other susceptible hosts,such as a bug bite.

Question 2

A community health nurse has recently become involved in surveillance.Which of the following describes the situation that the nurse is in?

Accepted Answer

Surveillance gathers the "who,when,where,and what"; these elements are then used to answer "why." Nurses are frequently involved in surveillance by collecting data,making diagnoses,investigating and reporting cases,and providing information to the general public.Client education,program evaluation,and advocating for changes are not part of the surveillance process.

Question 3

A nurse is providing education to a mother about the importance of having her infant immunized for measles,mumps,and rubella.Which of the following best describes the type of immunity that will be provided?

Accepted Answer

Active immunity refers to the immunization of an individual by administration of an antigen (infectious agent or vaccine)and is usually characterized by the presence of an antibody produced by the individual host.Passive immunity refers to immunization through the transfer of a specific antibody from an immunized individual to a non-immunized individual.Natural immunity refers to species-determined,innate resistance to an infectious agent.Acquired immunity is the resistance acquired by a host as a result of previous natural exposure to an infectious agent.

Question 4

A nurse is presenting information to the county health department about potential bioterrorism threats.Which of the following agents would the nurse discuss in this presentation?

Accepted Answer

Susceptibility to smallpox is 100% in the unvaccinated and fatality rate is estimated at 20-40% or higher.The agents of highest concern are anthrax,plague,smallpox,botulism,tularemia,and selected hemorrhagic viruses.West Nile Virus,SARS,and H1N1 are not viruses that would be used for bioterrorism.

Question 5

Immunity is a characteristic of the:

Accepted Answer

Immunity refers to species-determined resistance to an infectious agent and is determined by the characteristics of the host.The agent is the infection that is causing the infection/disease.Environmental factors may influence the susceptibility of the host.The epidemiologic triad involves the interaction of the host,agent,and environment.

Question 6

Food intoxication is caused by:

Accepted Answer

Food intoxication is caused by toxins produced by bacterial growth,chemical containments,and a variety of disease-producing substances found naturally in certain foods such as mushrooms and some seafood.Bacterial,viral,or parasitic invasion of food is not a cause of food intoxication.Food intoxication is not caused by overcooking meat or adding too many ingredients to food.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

Requirements for disease reporting in the United States are mandated by state laws and regulations.These diseases are then reported to the CDC.State public health officials collaborate with the CDC to determine which diseases should be nationally notifiable.The federal government and WHO are not involved in disease reporting.

Question 8

A nurse is providing information to a local newspaper about the presence of infectious diseases in the United States.Which of the following statements by the nurse is accurate?

Accepted Answer

The Americas are certified polio free.The plague is a vector-borne disease and cannot be spread by direct contact with inflicted individuals.Rabies is a rare event because of the widespread vaccination of dogs in the 1950s.The Americas were certified as polio free in 1994.The onset of Lyme's disease is characterized by a bull's-eye lesion.

Question 9

One case of smallpox occurs in a population in which it was considered to be previously eliminated.Which of the following best describes what has occurred?

Accepted Answer

The occurrence of one case of smallpox in a population in which it was considered to be previously eliminated is an epidemic.Endemic refers to the constant presence of a disease within a geographic area or population.Pandemic refers to an epidemic occurring worldwide and affecting large populations.Infectivity is the ability to enter and multiply in the host.

Question 10

A community health nurse is caring for a client with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).Which of the following should the nurse be aware of?

Accepted Answer

MRSA is being seen more and more in the community with outbreaks frequently associated with school athletic programs and prison populations.MRSA is still largely a health care-associated infection,but it is becoming more common.VRE was found before MRSA.MRSA is not associated with chronic illness.

Question 11

A public health nurse (PHN)understands that the emergence of new infectious diseases is influenced by the:

Accepted Answer

Globalization of food supplies is one of the many factors that can influence the emergence of infectious diseases.The increased use of childcare facilities could contribute to the emergence of new infectious diseases.The lack of sanitation systems in third world countries could contribute to the emergence of new infectious diseases.The increased availability of immunizations should decrease the emergence of diseases.

Question 12

The ability of an agent to produce a severe pathologic reaction is known as:

Accepted Answer

The ability of an agent to produce a severe pathologic reaction is known as virulence.Antigenicity is the ability to stimulate an immunological response.Invasiveness is the ability to penetrate and spread throughout a tissue.Toxicity is the ability to produce a poisonous reaction.

Question 13

A nurse is discussing the role of a vector in the spread of disease.Which of the following is the nurse most likely referring to?

Accepted Answer

Vectors are arthropods such as ticks and mosquitoes that transmit the infectious agent by biting or depositing the infective material near the host.Contaminated water,a dirty needle,and an infected person would be common vehicles.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

The incubation period is the time interval between invasion by an infectious agent and the first appearance of signs and symptoms.The communicable period is the interval during which an infectious agent may be transferred directly or indirectly from an infected person to another person.Infectiousness is the measure of the potential ability of an infected host to transmit the infection to other hosts.Endemic refers to the constant presence of a disease within a geographic area or a population.

Question 15

A nurse administers a rabies immunization post-exposure to an animal bite.Considering the interventions used with infectious disease,which of the following levels of prevention is being used?

Accepted Answer

Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and prompt treatment of disease,injury,or disability.Primary prevention seeks to reduce the incidence of disease by preventing occurrence.Tertiary prevention reduces complications through treatment and rehabilitation.Assessment refers to the systematic collection of data.

Question 16

A nurse is teaching members of the community about vertical transmission of a disease.Which of the following would the nurse most likely discuss?

Accepted Answer

Vertical transmission is the passing of infection from parent to offspring via sperm,placenta,milk,or contact in the vaginal canal at birth.Transmission through sexual contact is horizontal transmission.Transmission from mosquito bites is vector transmission.Transmission from contaminated food is common vehicle transmission.

Question 17

The nurse teaches food handlers to wash utensils after contact with raw meat.Which of the following best describes the focus of this education?

Accepted Answer

Environmental factors facilitate the transmission of an infectious agent from an infected host to other susceptible hosts.Teaching food handlers to wash utensils after contact with raw meat is a prevention that focuses on the environment.An agent is described by its ability to cause disease and the nature and the severity of the disease.The four major categories of agents are: (1)bacteria,(2)parasites,(3)fungi,and (4)viruses.A food handler is an example of a host,which is a human or animal that can harbor an infectious agent.

Question 18

A nurse is working in a health department when a patient arrives who has been traveling to South America and has been diagnosed with malaria.Which of the following considerations should be made by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Malaria is on the list of infectious diseases notifiable at the national level.The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report is published weekly with the rates of disease; however,this would not be the first consideration by the nurse.Malaria is not spread by direct contact,rather from a bite from an infected mosquito.Malaria begins with flu-like symptoms,or the client may have very few symptoms.

Question 19

The nurse provides footwear and gloves to leprosy clients to prevent trauma to their insensitive and deformed hands and feet.Which of the following best describes the intervention used by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Tertiary prevention reduces complications through treatment and rehabilitation.Primary prevention seeks to reduce the incidence of disease by preventing occurrence.Secondary prevention seeks to prevent the spread of infection and/or disease once it occurs.Primary health care is considered to be the essential health care services provided by physicians and other health care providers.

Question 20

A PHN would like to increase the immunization coverage of infants and toddlers.Which of the following strategies would be appropriate for the nurse to use?

Accepted Answer

Tracking children known to be at risk for underimmunization is a function of PHNs who work in health departments where immunizations are given and tracked.Reading the Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report,requiring that children have all of their immunizations before attending school,and leading teams of health care workers would not be as effective in increasing immunization coverage for this population.

Quiz 13: Infectious Disease Prevention and Control