Pathogens Reservoirs

Sources of nosocomial infectious agents include: a. staff b. physical structures c. patient's own normal flora d. all answer choices e. a and b

All Answer Choices

Arthropods infect other animals by: a. biting or defecating the infectious agent b. transmitting the agent from a body part to the animal c. transmitting the agent to water or food which is consumed by an animal d. all of the above

All of the Above

Humans can serve as a source and reservoir for infectious agents. During acute disease, coughing or sneezing can transmit a pathogen to another human. Too, sometimes infectious agents are transmitted to other humans even though the infected person is not exhibiting any symptoms. A human who is infectious for others yet is not experiencing any symptoms is called a: a. etiological agent b. sporadic source c. carrier d. acute carrier

Carrier

Some people are a constant source of a pathogen and are infectious for others their entire life. This category of carrier is called: a. chronic b. acute c. sporadic d. endemic

Chronic

True or False: The phrase 'source of infection' means the same as 'reservoir'. For example, the reservoir for hantavirus is the deer mouse and the source of contact is also the deer mouse.

False

Another source of infectious agents is non-biological. For example, if an infectious agent is on an inanimate object and the inanimate object serves as the route of infection for a human, the inanimate object is called a: a. vector b. host c. fomite d. prosthesis

Fomite

If the avenue of infection is from one adult to another adult, this transmission is an example of: a. oblique b. transverse c. vertical d. parturition e. horizontal

Horizontal

Which of the following is not a reason why normal flora cause nosocomial infections: a. in the hospital, normal flora may mutate so that they cause disease b. antibiotic therapy in the hospital depletes protective normal flora and surviving species may cause disease c. during a procedure, normal flora may be introduced into a sterile area of the body d. patient's immune system is compromised while in the hospital, e.g., immunosuppressive agents

In the hospital, normal flora may mutate so that they cause disease

Nosocomial infections refer to: a. infections acquired at a hospital or clinic b. infections which are to be treated in a hospital or clinic c. infections which were treated and cured in a hospital or clinic d. infections caused by a vector e. infections caused by a non-human animal

Infections acquired at a hospital or clinic

Which of the following is never an example of a human carrier: a. convalescing patient b. person during the incubation period c. asymptomatic but able to transmit an infectious agent d. person during the prodromal phase of disease e. medical personnel who transmit an infectious agent from one patient to another because they do not wash their hands in between patients

Person during the prodromal phase of disease

Upon their return to the US, troops who served in the first Gulf War were banned from donating blood to the Red Cross. This was due to the possible contamination of their blood by a protozoan called Leischmania. Leischmaniasis is an infectious disease transmitted by sand fleas. The reservoir are rodents. The sand fleas acquire this protozoan from rodents and have been known to transmit it to humans. This is an example where: a. the reservoir and the source of infection are the same b. the reservoir and the source of infection are different

The reservoir and the source of infection are different

True or False: Sometimes humans can pick up an infectious agent on their hands and then infect others. This occurs in the hospital when a nurse or doctor fails to wash his or her hands in between patients. This is referred to as a passive carrier.

True

True or False: Historically, one of the most common causes of nosocomial infections was failure of the staff to wash their hands in between patients. Today, it's still a concern.

True

The most common site for a nosocomial infection is the: a. blood stream b. skin c. urinary tract d. heart e. lungs

Urinary Tract

Besides humans, animals can serve as sources of infectious agents. For example, there are many diseases transmitted by arthropods. Many of these are insects which pick up a pathogen from its reservoir and then transmit it to a host. Arthropods which transmit infectious agents are called: a. zoonoses b. vectors c. carriers d. nosocomial agents

Vectors

If the avenue for infection is from mother to fetus. This transmission is called: a. oblique b. transverse c. vertical d. parturition e. horizontal

Vertical

Vertebrate animals can serve as both a reservoir and the source of infection. When they transmit an infectious agent, the resulting disease is called a(n): a. pathogen borne disease b. zoonose c. vector borne disease d. carrier borne disease

Zoonose