Question 1

Which of the following best describes the role of resident microbiota in the human body?

Accepted Answer

They feed on excreted cellular wastes and dead cells without causing harm, acting as commensals.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a condition under which normal microbiota can become opportunistic pathogens?

Accepted Answer

Presence of normal microbiota in their usual location.

Question 3

Which of the following is a correct statement about nosocomial infections?

Accepted Answer

They are acquired in healthcare facilities and can result from medical procedures.

Question 4

Which of the following is a major difference between exotoxins and endotoxins?

Accepted Answer

Exotoxins are secreted proteins, while endotoxins are lipopolysaccharides released from dead Gram-negative bacteria.

Question 5

A patient develops a secondary infection after antibiotic treatment for pneumonia. This is best described as:

Accepted Answer

A nosocomial infection caused by a superinfection due to reduced competition from resident microbiota.

Question 6

Which of the following is a portal of entry for pathogens that is unique to pregnant women?

Accepted Answer

Placenta

Question 7

Which of the following is a function of extracellular enzymes produced by pathogens?

Accepted Answer

Dissolving structural chemicals in the body to help maintain infection and evade defenses.

Question 8

Which of the following is an example of direct contact transmission?

Accepted Answer

Person-to-person spread through touching or kissing.

Question 9

A map showing cholera deaths clustered around a water pump in London, 1854, is an example of which type of epidemiological study?

Accepted Answer

Descriptive epidemiology

Question 10

Which of the following best describes the difference between incidence and prevalence?

Accepted Answer

Incidence is the number of new cases in a given area during a given period, while prevalence is the total number of cases in a given area during a given period.

Question 11

Which of the following is a nonliving reservoir of infection?

Accepted Answer

Soil contaminated with Clostridium botulinum

Question 12

Which of the following is a virulence factor that allows bacteria to evade phagocytosis?

Accepted Answer

Bacterial capsule

Question 13

Which of the following diseases is classified as a communicable disease?

Accepted Answer

Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Question 14

Which stage of infectious disease is characterized by the most severe signs and symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Period of illness

Question 15

Which of the following is a mode of transmission for HIV?

Accepted Answer

Bodily fluid transmission

Question 16

Which of the following statements about zoonoses is correct?

Accepted Answer

Zoonoses are diseases naturally spread from animals to humans.

Question 17

Which of the following is a real-world example of a biological vector?

Accepted Answer

A mosquito transmitting malaria

Question 18

Which of the following is a function of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)?

Accepted Answer

Recording US disease data and recommending means of prevention.

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the effect of handwashing with chlorinated lime solution in the 1840s maternity hospital, as shown in the graph?

Accepted Answer

A significant decrease in mortality rates due to reduced transmission of Streptococcus infections.

Question 20

A patient is exposed to a pathogen via a contaminated IV line. Which portal of entry is involved?

Accepted Answer

Parenteral route

Infection, Infectious Disease, and Epidemiology – Study Notes

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards