Ch.2 Communicable Diseases

Question 1

Pathogens

Answer 1

• Microorganisms that cause disease

- Visible only through microscope

Question 2

Bacteria

Answer 2

• Microscopic organisms that can reproduce on their own
• Respond to antibiotics
• TB, UTI, step throat are common bacterial infections

Question 3

Virus

Answer 3

• Smaller than bacteria
• Cannot reproduce without a host cell
• Antibiotics not effective
• HIV/AIDS , hepatitis, chicken pox

Question 4

Fungi

Answer 4

• Plantlike Microorganisms
• Typically do not cause infection in good immune systems
• Pneumonia in an HIV infected person

Question 5

Protozoa

Answer 5

• Enter through oral-fecal route

- Mosquitoes carry Protozoa that causes malaria

Question 6

Helminths

Answer 6

• Parasitic worms (Tape Worms)

- Enter by ingestion of worm eggs

Question 7

Communicable diseases

Answer 7

• Spreads from person to person
• Blood to Blood
• Contact with open wounds
• Contact with mucous membranes
• Needle sticks
• Airborne

Question 8

Standard Precautions

Answer 8

-Required by OSHA
-Both employers and employees are responsible for:
•Ensuring proper equipment
•Ensuring policies are in place
-Employer must also develop and enforce an exposure policy

Question 9

Standard precaution applies to being exposed to

Answer 9

• Blood
• All body secretions, except sweat
• Non-intact skin
• Mucous membranes

Question 10

PPE

Answer 10

• Gloves
• Eye protection
• Gowns
• Masks

Question 11

Hand washing time?

Answer 11

10-15 seconds

Question 12

Cleaning Equipment

Answer 12

-Cleaning
•Soap and water only
-Disinfecting
•Hospital grade disinfectant or germicide solution
•Most common for back of ambulance and equipment

Question 13

Sterilization

Answer 13

-All organisms killed!

Question 14

Hepatitis B

Answer 14

• Spread via blood and body fluids
• Inflammation of the liver
• Immune response to the virus causes swelling of the liver
• Can live outside body for 7 days

Question 15

Hepatitis B S/Sx

Answer 15

• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Jaundice (Late sign)

Question 16

Hepatitis C

Answer 16

-Transmission mode and S/Sx similar to Hep B

-Much clear to clear though:
•85% will become chronic carriers
Vs.
•5% of Hep B infected people become chronic carriers

Question 17

PPE for Hepatitis

Answer 17

-No blood or body fluids
•Gloves should be sufficient
-Presence body fluids?
•Gloves, goggles, mask, possibly gown

Question 18

Tuberculosis

Answer 18

-Bacterial disease
•Pneumonia
•Can be active or inactive in the lungs
-Highly contagious through droplet secretions
•Cannot be spread via contact (Hand shaking)

Question 19

Tuberculosis S/Sx

Answer 19

• Fever
• Cough
• night sweats
• weight loss

Question 20

Tuberculosis test

Answer 20

• Skin test common

- Xrays

Question 21

TB full PPE

Answer 21

-Full PPE for active TB including N-95 mask

Question 22

HIV/AIDS

Answer 22

• Virus destroys the body’s ability to fight infection

- Spread thru blood and body fluids

Question 23

HIV/AIDS S/Sx

Answer 23

• Most involved general illness
• Pneumonia
• Infection

Question 24

HIV/AIDS PPR

Answer 24

• No body fluids=Gloves

- Body fluids=full PPE

Question 25

Meningitis

Answer 25

-Inflammation of the meninges

-Usually viral or bacterial
•Viral usually resolves with supportive care
•Bacterial fatal if not treated, antibiotics and steroids

Question 26

Classic triad Symptoms (meningitis)

Answer 26

• Headache
• Stiff Neck
• Sudden High Fever

Question 27

Meningitis PPE

Answer 27

• Standard precautions, with mask

- Can be spread through droplet secretions

Question 28

MRSA

Answer 28

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

• Generally a skin infection
• Resistant to most antibiotics

Question 29

MRSA S/Sx

Answer 29

Generally a skin infection

• Red
• Swollen
• Painful
• warm to touch

Question 30

MRSA prevention

Answer 30

• Use good hygiene
• Wear Gloves
• Keep cuts covered

Question 31

Disease transmitted probability

Answer 31

Hep B
  •6-30% chance of virus 
Hep C
  •2%
HIV/AIDS
  •0.3%
-Canada OSHA stats 2012