CMN 577 Unit 3 Questions with Correct
Answers | Updated (100% Correct Answers)
most important characteristic of a biological agent: Answer: ability
of the agent to be dispersed
in aerosols, can remain suspended (in certain
weather conditions) for hours and, if inhaled,
will penetrate the distal bronchioles and terminal
alveoli of victims
How is anthrax transmitted? Answer: zoonotic disease (an animal
disease
transmitted to humans) that is transmissible to
humans through handling or consumption of contaminated
animal products.
-Cutaneous infections from cut or abrasion handling wool, hides or
leather
-Inhalation is the most deadly form of the
disease, but it occurs less frequently as a naturally
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occurring disease than the cutaneous or GI forms
What makes Anthrax an ideal biological agent? Answer: easy to
cultivate, the spores are resistant to heat and disinfection, and it can
be produced in massive amounts relatively
inexpensively via aerosol or spray device
Signs & symptoms of Anthrax Answer: acute onset of a flu-like
illness followed by short period improvement
-subclinical or clinical meningitis should also be
suspected in victims
-abrupt development of severe respiratory
distress with dyspnea, diaphoresis, stridor, and
cyanosis.
-Shock and death usually occur within 24
to 36 hours after the onset of respiratory distress
What Anthrax infection looks like: Answer: raised pruritic lesion or
papule that resembles an insect bite.
Within one to two days, the lesion develops into a
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fluid-filled vesicle, which ruptures to form a painless
ulcer with a necrotic center
-Pronounced edema & surrounding lymphadenopathy is often
associated with the lesions because of the release
of an edema-producing toxin
treatment of anthrax Answer: Immediate postexposure prophylaxis
with ciprofloxacin
or doxycycline orally, twice daily & continue for 60 days after IV
antibiotic therapy.
-unvaccinated, a three-dose series of anthrax vaccine
adsorbed (AVA) should also be administered
What transmission precautions to take with Anthrax once patient
identified? Answer: no data to suggest patient-to-patient
transmission; therefore, only standard
barrier isolation precautions are recommended for
hospitalized patients.
-There is no need to immunize or provide prophylaxis
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