Question 1

The portal of entry of the pathogen causing illness in this case is the

Accepted Answer

A)  skin. 
B)  large intestine. 
C)  nose. 
D)  mouth. 
E)  mucociliary escalator. 
A)  skin. 
B)  large intestine. 
C)  nose. 
D)  mouth. 
E)  mucociliary escalator.

Question 2

The member of the hospital staff who surveys the types and numbers of nosocomial infections is called the

Accepted Answer

A)  head nurse. 
B)  infection control practitioner. 
C)  staff control. 
D)  attending physician. 
E)  external epidemiologist. 
A)  head nurse. 
B)  infection control practitioner. 
C)  staff control. 
D)  attending physician. 
E)  external epidemiologist.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a political/societal reason for a decrease in rates of childhood immunizations?

Accepted Answer

A)  Distrust of the healthcare body administering the vaccinations. 
B)  Distrust of the government funding the vaccination process. 
C)  A lack of a proper "cold chain" for stable transport of vaccines into tropical areas. 
D)  Distrust of the scientific community advocating for administration of vaccines. 
E)  Lack of awareness of the seriousness of diseases such as pertussis. 
A)  Distrust of the healthcare body administering the vaccinations. 
B)  Distrust of the government funding the vaccination process. 
C)  A lack of a proper "cold chain" for stable transport of vaccines into tropical areas. 
D)  Distrust of the scientific community advocating for administration of vaccines. 
E)  Lack of awareness of the seriousness of diseases such as pertussis.

Question 4

Diseases with long incubation periods are more likely to spread extensively.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

The situation described in this case study is an example of a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  propagated epidemic, because one student became ill, followed by others over several days. 
B)  common-source epidemic, because several students became ill in the same time frame. 
C)  propagated epidemic, because several students became ill in the same time frame. 
D)  epidemic, because one student became ill and then spread the causative organism to many others. 
E)  cohort study, because there was a group of students all affected by the same pathogen. 
A)  propagated epidemic, because one student became ill, followed by others over several days. 
B)  common-source epidemic, because several students became ill in the same time frame. 
C)  propagated epidemic, because several students became ill in the same time frame. 
D)  epidemic, because one student became ill and then spread the causative organism to many others. 
E)  cohort study, because there was a group of students all affected by the same pathogen.

Question 6

In a double-blind test the treating physician knows who is getting the actual treatment.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Generally, the smaller the infective dose, the lower the chance of disease.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

The threat of bioterrorism

Accepted Answer

A)  is due largely to the ease of spread and severity of diseases AND has prompted WHO to prepare a readiness plan. 
B)  is due largely to the ease of spread and severity of diseases AND may include rarely seen infectious agents. 
C)  is exaggerated in light of the efficiency of our healthcare system AND has prompted WHO to prepare a readiness plan. 
D)  has prompted the CDC to prepare a readiness plan AND is due largely to the ease of spread and severity of diseases. 
E)  has prompted the WHO to prepare a readiness plan, may include rarely seen infectious agents, AND is due largely to the ease of spread and severity of diseases. 
A)  is due largely to the ease of spread and severity of diseases AND has prompted WHO to prepare a readiness plan. 
B)  is due largely to the ease of spread and severity of diseases AND may include rarely seen infectious agents. 
C)  is exaggerated in light of the efficiency of our healthcare system AND has prompted WHO to prepare a readiness plan. 
D)  has prompted the CDC to prepare a readiness plan AND is due largely to the ease of spread and severity of diseases. 
E)  has prompted the WHO to prepare a readiness plan, may include rarely seen infectious agents, AND is due largely to the ease of spread and severity of diseases.

Question 9

Large respiratory droplets typically travel no farther from point of release than

Accepted Answer

A)  3 meters. 
B)  5 meters. 
C)  1 meter. 
D)  20 meters. 
E)  12 inches. 
A)  3 meters. 
B)  5 meters. 
C)  1 meter. 
D)  20 meters. 
E)  12 inches.

Question 10

A new serotype of Vibrio cholerae, V. cholerae 0139, has picked up the ability to produce

Accepted Answer

A)  pili. 
B)  flagella. 
C)  a capsule. 
D)  a toxin. 
E)  endotoxin. 
A)  pili. 
B)  flagella. 
C)  a capsule. 
D)  a toxin. 
E)  endotoxin.

Question 11

If the number of people who become ill during an epidemic rises and falls rapidly, this is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  propagated epidemic. 
B)  promulgated epidemic. 
C)  common source epidemic. 
D)  index epidemic. 
E)  contagious epidemic. 
A)  propagated epidemic. 
B)  promulgated epidemic. 
C)  common source epidemic. 
D)  index epidemic. 
E)  contagious epidemic.

Question 12

Which of the following is considered a zoonotic disease?

Accepted Answer

A)  Measles 
B)  Typhoid 
C)  Common cold 
D)  Influenza 
E)  Plague 
A)  Measles 
B)  Typhoid 
C)  Common cold 
D)  Influenza 
E)  Plague

Question 13

The period of time between exposure to an agent and the onset of disease signs and symptoms is called the

Accepted Answer

A)  prodromal phase. 
B)  decline phase. 
C)  incubation period. 
D)  lag phase. 
E)  carrier phase. 
A)  prodromal phase. 
B)  decline phase. 
C)  incubation period. 
D)  lag phase. 
E)  carrier phase.

Question 14

Apparently healthy people who may transmit a pathogen they harbor are called

Accepted Answer

A)  vectors. 
B)  carriers. 
C)  fomites. 
D)  vehicles. 
E)  arthropods. 
A)  vectors. 
B)  carriers. 
C)  fomites. 
D)  vehicles. 
E)  arthropods.

Question 15

Transmission-Based Precautions

Accepted Answer

A)  is an online informative course all health workers must take on an annual basis. 
B)  are guidelines from WHO for dealing with emerging infectious diseases. 
C)  are instructions on the care of all patients given to nurses at their place of employment. 
D)  are guidelines to use with patients infected with a highly transmissible or epidemiologically important pathogen. 
E)  are guidelines given to patients before they enter the hospital to educate them on HAIs. 
A)  is an online informative course all health workers must take on an annual basis. 
B)  are guidelines from WHO for dealing with emerging infectious diseases. 
C)  are instructions on the care of all patients given to nurses at their place of employment. 
D)  are guidelines to use with patients infected with a highly transmissible or epidemiologically important pathogen. 
E)  are guidelines given to patients before they enter the hospital to educate them on HAIs.

Question 16

Which of the statements about transmission of pathogens is True?

Accepted Answer

A)  Vertical transmission of a pathogen is from the environment to a person. 
B)  Horizontal transmission refers to spread of a pathogen from mother to fetus. 
C)  Sexual intercourse is an example of indirect contact. 
D)  Droplet transmission is a particularly important source of contamination in densely populated buildings such as schools. 
E)  Droplet nuclei are large drops of pathogen-containing fluid discharged by talking; they fall to the ground within a meter of the person. 
A)  Vertical transmission of a pathogen is from the environment to a person. 
B)  Horizontal transmission refers to spread of a pathogen from mother to fetus. 
C)  Sexual intercourse is an example of indirect contact. 
D)  Droplet transmission is a particularly important source of contamination in densely populated buildings such as schools. 
E)  Droplet nuclei are large drops of pathogen-containing fluid discharged by talking; they fall to the ground within a meter of the person.

Question 17

The guidelines designed for prevention of nosocomial disease during care of all patients is called

Accepted Answer

A)  Standard Precautions. 
B)  Universal Disposables. 
C)  Disinfection Manifesto. 
D)  Asepsis Preference. 
E)  Hand Hygiene Precautions. 
A)  Standard Precautions. 
B)  Universal Disposables. 
C)  Disinfection Manifesto. 
D)  Asepsis Preference. 
E)  Hand Hygiene Precautions.

Question 18

Which of the following would be indirect transmission of a pathogen in a healthcare facility?

Accepted Answer

A)  Medical devices such as urinary catheters. 
B)  Inadequately sterilized instruments used in invasive procedures. 
C)  Inadequately sterilized instruments used in invasive procedures AND healthcare personnel who do not wash their hands properly. 
D)  Medical devices such as urinary catheters AND inadequately sterilized instruments used in invasive procedures. 
E)  Healthcare personnel who do not wash their hands adequately AND intravenous (IV) catheters colonized with normal skin microbiota. 
A)  Medical devices such as urinary catheters. 
B)  Inadequately sterilized instruments used in invasive procedures. 
C)  Inadequately sterilized instruments used in invasive procedures AND healthcare personnel who do not wash their hands properly. 
D)  Medical devices such as urinary catheters AND inadequately sterilized instruments used in invasive procedures. 
E)  Healthcare personnel who do not wash their hands adequately AND intravenous (IV) catheters colonized with normal skin microbiota.

Question 19

The number of cases of a specific disease per one hundred people exposed is called the

Accepted Answer

A)  attack rate. 
B)  index rate. 
C)  mortality rate. 
D)  obesity rate. 
E)  attack index. 
A)  attack rate. 
B)  index rate. 
C)  mortality rate. 
D)  obesity rate. 
E)  attack index.

Question 20

Prevention of patient-to-personnel transmission of disease depends on limiting contact with

Accepted Answer

A)  patients. 
B)  personnel. 
C)  administrators. 
D)  physicians. 
E)  body fluids. 
A)  patients. 
B)  personnel. 
C)  administrators. 
D)  physicians. 
E)  body fluids.

Exam 19: Epidemiology

The portal of entry of the pathogen causing illness in this case is the

The member of the hospital staff who surveys the types and numbers of nosocomial infections is called the

Which of the following is NOT a political/societal reason for a decrease in rates of childhood immunizations?

Diseases with long incubation periods are more likely to spread extensively.

The situation described in this case study is an example of a(n)

In a double-blind test the treating physician knows who is getting the actual treatment.

Generally, the smaller the infective dose, the lower the chance of disease.

The threat of bioterrorism

Large respiratory droplets typically travel no farther from point of release than

A new serotype of Vibrio cholerae, V. cholerae 0139, has picked up the ability to produce

If the number of people who become ill during an epidemic rises and falls rapidly, this is called a(n)

Which of the following is considered a zoonotic disease?

The period of time between exposure to an agent and the onset of disease signs and symptoms is called the

Apparently healthy people who may transmit a pathogen they harbor are called

Transmission-Based Precautions

Which of the statements about transmission of pathogens is True?

The guidelines designed for prevention of nosocomial disease during care of all patients is called

Which of the following would be indirect transmission of a pathogen in a healthcare facility?

The number of cases of a specific disease per one hundred people exposed is called the

Prevention of patient-to-personnel transmission of disease depends on limiting contact with

Humans and the Microbial World

The Molecules of Life

Microscopy and Cell Structure

Dynamics of Microbial Growth

Control of Microbial Growth

Microbial Metabolism: Fueling Cell Growth

The Blueprint of Life, from DNA to Protein

Bacterial Genetics

Biotechnology

Identifying and Classifying Microorganisms

The Diversity of Bacteria and Archaea

The Eukaryotic Members of the Microbial World

Viruses, Viroids, and Prions

The Innate Immune Response

The Adaptive Immune Response

Host-Microbe Interactions

Immunological Disorders

Applications of Immune Responses

Antimicrobial Medications

Respiratory System Infections

Skin Infections

Wound Infections

Digestive System Infections

Blood and Lymphatic Infections

Nervous System Infections

Genitourinary Tract Infections

Microbial Ecology

Environmental Microbiology: Treatment of Water, Wastes, and Polluted Habitats

Food Microbiology

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