CHAIN OF INFECTION MIDTERM Flashcards
A nurse forgets to disinfect a surgical tool before an operation. What part of the chain of infection is compromised?
Pathogen – The unsterilized tool may introduce infectious microorganisms.
A patient with tuberculosis does not take their full course of antibiotics. What might happen?
The pathogen may not be fully eliminated, leading to drug resistance and ongoing infection.
A hospital fails to use proper chemical disinfectants for cleaning. What could be the consequence?
Pathogens may survive on surfaces, increasing the risk of healthcare-associated infections.
A person carrying Salmonella does not show symptoms but spreads the bacteria. What kind of carrier are they?
Asymptomatic carrier – They can transmit the pathogen without showing illness.
A community lacks proper waste management, leading to rodent infestations. How does this contribute to infection?
Rodents can act as reservoirs for diseases like leptospirosis.
A hospital does not properly dispose of used syringes. What risk does this pose?
The syringes can become a reservoir for bloodborne infections like HIV and hepatitis B.
A patient with the flu sneezes without covering their mouth. How does this contribute to disease spread?
The respiratory droplets act as a portal of exit, allowing airborne transmission.
A person with an open wound does not cover it. How does this affect infection control?
The wound serves as a portal of exit, releasing infectious agents into the environment.
A healthcare worker improperly disposes of a patient’s blood sample. What could happen?
The blood may serve as a portal of exit, spreading bloodborne pathogens.
A person touches a contaminated doorknob and later rubs their eyes. What type of transmission is this?
Indirect contact transmission – The contaminated surface acted as a vehicle.
A mosquito bites an infected person and then bites another person. What mode of transmission is this?
Vectorborne transmission – The mosquito acts as a biological vector.
A person drinks untreated water containing Vibrio cholerae. What mode of transmission is involved?
Vehicleborne transmission – The pathogen was transmitted through contaminated water.
A nurse moves between patients without washing hands. What risk does this pose?
The nurse may spread infections through direct contact transmission.
A sick individual coughs near others without wearing a mask. How is the infection transmitted?
Droplet transmission – The respiratory droplets carry the infectious agent.
A patient receives an injection with an unsterile needle. What portal of entry is affected?
The bloodstream – The contaminated needle introduces the pathogen directly.
A person eats food contaminated with bacteria. What portal of entry is involved?
The gastrointestinal tract – The bacteria enter through ingestion.
A healthcare worker accidentally touches their face after handling infected material. What portal of entry is used?
The mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth) – The pathogen enters through these sites.
A person with a deep cut steps into dirty water. What portal of entry is involved?
The skin – The cut provides direct access for pathogens.
A child with no prior exposure to chickenpox interacts with an infected person. What makes them susceptible?
They lack immunity, making them a susceptible host.
An elderly patient contracts pneumonia after a hospital stay. Why are they at higher risk?
Age-related immune decline makes them more susceptible.
A cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy develops an infection. Why?
Chemotherapy weakens the immune system, increasing susceptibility.
A person with diabetes gets a foot infection. Why are they at risk?
Diabetes impairs circulation and immune response, increasing infection risk.
A malnourished child is frequently sick. What factor makes them susceptible?
Poor nutrition weakens the immune system, making infections more likely.
A person with HIV is advised to get vaccinated for pneumonia. Why?
HIV weakens the immune system, making them more vulnerable to infections.
A person is exposed to the flu but has no symptoms for a few days. What stage of infection is this?
Incubation period – The virus is multiplying but has not yet caused symptoms.
A patient feels fatigued and slightly feverish before developing full-blown measles. What stage is this?
Prodromal stage – Early, nonspecific symptoms appear.
A person with COVID-19 experiences severe difficulty breathing. What stage is this?
Illness stage – The disease reaches its peak.
A person with food poisoning starts feeling better after taking medication. What stage is this?
Decline stage – The body is overcoming the infection.
A person recovering from chickenpox still feels weak but no longer has active symptoms. What stage is this?
Convalescence stage – The body is healing after infection.
A hospital implements mandatory hand hygiene policies. What link does this target?
Mode of transmission – It prevents the spread of pathogens via contact.
A patient with tuberculosis is placed in an isolation room. What link is being broken?
Mode of transmission – Isolation prevents airborne spread.
A nurse administers a flu vaccine to a patient. What link is targeted?
Susceptible host – Vaccination strengthens immunity.
A doctor prescribes antibiotics to a patient with bacterial pneumonia. What link does this break?
Pathogen – The antibiotics eliminate the bacteria.
A restaurant ensures all food is cooked to the proper temperature. What link is being addressed?
Pathogen – Proper cooking kills harmful microorganisms.
A hospital uses HEPA filters in rooms for immunocompromised patients. What link is targeted?
Mode of transmission – HEPA filters reduce airborne pathogen spread.
A community installs clean water systems. What link is broken?
Reservoir – Clean water reduces waterborne infections.
A nurse wears gloves while handling a patient’s wound. What link is addressed?
Portal of entry – Gloves prevent pathogen entry.
A daycare enforces routine toy sanitation. What link is being broken?
Mode of transmission – Cleaning reduces indirect contact transmission.
A traveler takes malaria prophylaxis before visiting a high-risk area. What link is targeted?
Susceptible host – Preventative medication reduces risk.
A hospital properly disposes of used needles in a sharps container. What link does this break?
Portal of exit – Proper disposal prevents exposure to infected blood.
A community receives COVID-19 booster shots. What link is disrupted?
Susceptible host – Boosters enhance immunity.
A hospital implements routine screening for MRSA carriers. What link does this break?
Reservoir – Identifying carriers helps prevent transmission.
A factory provides PPE for workers exposed to hazardous materials. What link is targeted?
Portal of entry – PPE blocks pathogen entry.
A patient diagnosed with measles stays home. What link is affected?
Mode of transmission – Isolation prevents spread.
A daycare enforces handwashing before meals. What link is broken?
Mode of transmission – Proper hygiene prevents spread.
A laboratory technician forgets to sterilize petri dishes before reusing them. What could happen?
Contamination could occur, leading to the growth of infectious pathogens.
A patient contracts a bacterial infection that is resistant to multiple antibiotics. What is this called?
Multidrug-resistant infection – The pathogen has developed resistance to standard treatments.
A scientist develops a new antiviral drug. What link in the chain of infection does this target?
Pathogen – The drug inhibits the virus from replicating and causing disease.
A hospital fails to separate patients with a highly contagious disease. What risk does this pose?
The pathogen can spread easily to other patients and staff.
A person with untreated tuberculosis continues working in a crowded office. What might happen?
The infection may spread through airborne transmission.
A group of wild animals in a forest carries a strain of rabies. What role do they play in the chain of infection?
They act as a reservoir for the rabies virus.
A hospital detects Legionella bacteria in its water supply. Why is this a concern?
The water acts as a reservoir for the bacteria, which can cause Legionnaires’ disease.
A farmer fails to vaccinate livestock against anthrax. What risk does this pose?
The livestock can become reservoirs for anthrax, increasing transmission risk to humans.
A person with hepatitis B does not know they are infected and donates blood. What is the risk?
They may unknowingly transmit the virus, as they are acting as a reservoir.
An abandoned building contains standing water and mosquitoes. What infectious disease risk does this pose?
The standing water serves as a reservoir for mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and malaria.
A patient with an infected wound does not cover it properly. How can this contribute to infection spread?
The open wound serves as a portal of exit, releasing pathogens into the environment.
A nurse treats a patient with Ebola but does not properly dispose of contaminated gloves. What might happen?
The gloves may act as a portal of exit, carrying the virus to another host.
A person with a respiratory infection talks loudly near others. How does this affect transmission?
Droplets expelled while speaking can serve as a portal of exit, spreading the infection.
A wastewater treatment facility fails to properly handle human waste. What risk does this create?
Pathogens from fecal matter may spread, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases.
A blood sample from an HIV-positive patient spills in a lab. Why is this a concern?
Blood acts as a portal of exit for HIV, increasing the risk of accidental exposure.
A person with a cold shakes hands with someone else without washing their hands. What mode of transmission is this?
Direct contact transmission – The virus spreads through skin-to-skin contact.
A food worker does not wash their hands after using the restroom and then handles food. What mode of transmission is this?
Fecal-oral transmission – Pathogens from unwashed hands can contaminate food.
A cat scratches a person, leading to an infection. What type of transmission is involved?
Direct transmission – The bacteria from the cat’s claws enter the wound.
A sick person drinks from a shared water bottle. What type of transmission is this?
Indirect transmission – The water bottle acts as a vehicle for the pathogen.
A family lives in a house infested with fleas. What type of disease transmission might occur?
Vectorborne transmission – Fleas can spread diseases like typhus or plague.
A healthcare worker forgets to wear a mask while treating a patient with tuberculosis. What portal of entry is involved?
The respiratory tract – The worker may inhale the airborne bacteria.
A child playing outside gets a cut on their foot and later develops an infection. What portal of entry is affected?
The skin – The cut provides an entry point for bacteria.
A person rubs their eyes after touching a contaminated doorknob. What portal of entry is involved?
The mucous membranes – The eyes serve as an entry point for infection.
A tourist eats undercooked seafood and contracts food poisoning. What portal of entry is affected?
The gastrointestinal tract – The contaminated food introduces pathogens into the body.
A diabetic patient develops a foot ulcer that becomes infected. What is the portal of entry?
The ulcer provides direct access for pathogens to enter the body.
A newborn baby is exposed to the flu but does not have any prior immunity. Why is this concerning?
The baby is a susceptible host due to an underdeveloped immune system.
A smoker develops a respiratory infection more easily than a non-smoker. Why?
Smoking damages the lungs, making them more susceptible to infections.
A person undergoing an organ transplant takes immunosuppressants. How does this affect their infection risk?
The medications weaken the immune system, increasing susceptibility.
An elderly patient is advised to get a pneumonia vaccine. Why?
Older adults are more susceptible to respiratory infections due to weakened immunity.
A malnourished person frequently gets sick. What makes them vulnerable?
Poor nutrition weakens the immune system, increasing susceptibility.
A person with the flu stays home instead of going to work. What link in the chain of infection is disrupted?
Mode of transmission – Avoiding contact reduces the spread of the virus.
A healthcare worker wears gloves while treating an open wound. What link is being broken?
Portal of entry – Gloves prevent direct pathogen entry into the body.
A hospital disinfects all surfaces daily. What link in the chain of infection does this target?
Pathogen and mode of transmission – Disinfection eliminates microbes on surfaces.
A person takes anti-malaria medication before traveling to an endemic area. What link is disrupted?
Susceptible host – Preventive medication strengthens protection against infection.
A doctor prescribes antiviral drugs for a flu patient. What link is being broken?
Pathogen – The medication helps reduce viral replication.
A community promotes vaccination campaigns against measles. What link is disrupted?
Susceptible host – Immunization prevents people from getting infected.
A patient with hepatitis B is advised not to share razors or toothbrushes. What link is being targeted?
Mode of transmission – Avoiding shared items prevents indirect contact transmission.
A nurse wears a face shield while treating a COVID-19 patient. What link does this break?
Portal of entry – The shield blocks respiratory droplet exposure.
A hospital isolates patients with airborne infections. What link is being broken?
Mode of transmission – Isolation prevents airborne spread.
