NURS 5315 Infection Detailed Questions and Verified Solutions Exam 2026

NURS 5315 Infection Detailed Questions and Verified Solutions Exam 2026 What does "communicability" refer to in infectious diseases? A) The ability of a pathogen to cause disease B) The ability of a disease to spread from one individual to another C) The severity of symptoms caused by a disease D) The immune response triggered by a pathogen - Correct Answer-B) The ability of a disease to spread from one individual to another Which of the following best describes a disease with high infectivity? A) It requires a large number of pathogens to cause infection B) It can cause disease only in certain host species C) It requires a small number of pathogens to establish an infection D) It triggers a weak immune response in the host - Correct Answer-C) It requires a small number of pathogens to establish an infection What does "immunogenicity" mean in the context of a pathogen? A) The ability to reproduce rapidly within the host B) The ability to cause severe disease C) The ability to elicit an immune response in the host D) The ability to produce toxins - Correct Answer-C) The ability to elicit an immune response in the host Which of the following pathogens is known for its high toxigenicity? A) Helicobacter pylori B) Clostridium botulinum C) Mycobacterium tuberculosis D) Influenza virus - Correct Answer-B) Clostridium botulinum Pathogenicity refers to: A) The ability of a pathogen to multiply within the host B) The severity of symptoms caused by a pathogen C) The ability of a pathogen to cause disease in the host D) The ability of a pathogen to trigger inflammation in the host - Correct Answer-C) The ability of a pathogen to cause disease in the host Which of the following would most likely indicate a pathogen with high virulence? A) It causes mild, temporary illness B) It leads to severe disease with high mortality rates C) It remains dormant for years without causing symptoms NURS 5315 NURS 5315 D) It is easily neutralized by the host's immune system - Correct Answer-B) It leads to severe disease with high mortality rates Which of the following is NOT a common portal of entry for pathogens? A) Respiratory tract B) Urogenital tract C) Skin D) Bloodstream - Correct Answer-D) Bloodstream What is an outbreak? A) A disease that affects a large global population B) An unexpected rise in the number of disease cases in a particular area or group C) A disease that is always present in a population D) A disease that occurs sporadically without a specific pattern - Correct Answer-B) An unexpected rise in the number of disease cases in a particular area or group A disease that is consistently present in a specific geographic area is called: A) Epidemic B) Endemic C) Pandemic D) Outbreak - Correct Answer-B) Endemic Which term is used to describe a global outbreak of a disease? A) Endemic B) Pandemic C) Epidemic D) Hyperendemic - Correct Answer-B) Pandemic Which stage of infection is characterized by the body's immune system beginning to respond to the pathogen? A) Incubation period B) Prodrome period C) Period of illness D) Convalescence - Correct Answer-B) Prodrome period During which stage of infection do symptoms like fever and fatigue typically appear? A) Incubation period B) Period of illness C) Period of decline D) Convalescence - Correct Answer-B) Period of illness What is the relationship between pathogen load and the severity of symptoms? A) Higher pathogen load typically correlates with more severe symptoms B) A high pathogen load usually results in no symptoms C) Pathogen load has no effect on symptom severity NURS 5315 NURS 5315 D) A low pathogen load causes severe symptoms - Correct Answer-A) Higher pathogen load typically correlates with more severe symptoms Which stage of infection involves the host repairing tissue damage and returning to normal health? A) Incubation period B) Period of illness C) Period of convalescence D) Prodrome period - Correct Answer-C) Period of convalescence What is one key mechanism by which bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus invade host tissues? A) Binding to host cell receptors B) Producing toxins that damage host cells C) Using flagella for motility D) Both B and C - Correct Answer-D) Both B and C What is the role of biofilms in bacterial infections? A) They help the bacteria reproduce more quickly B) They protect the bacteria from the host's immune response and antibiotics C) They are responsible for the production of toxins D) They prevent bacteria from adhering to host cells - Correct Answer-B) They protect the bacteria from the host's immune response and antibiotics Which of the following describes the replication process of viruses? A) They reproduce by binary fission B) They replicate using the host's cell machinery C) They replicate through budding only D) They can replicate independently of a host cell - Correct Answer-B) They replicate using the host's cell machinery Fungal infections are often more dangerous in which type of individual? A) Healthy adults B) Immunocompromised individuals C) Individuals with a strong immune response D) Individuals with acute viral infections - Correct Answer-B) Immunocompromised individuals What characterizes an acute infection? A) It has a long duration with mild symptoms B) It has a rapid onset with severe symptoms but is short in duration C) It persists for years without symptoms D) It causes long-term health problems - Correct Answer-B) It has a rapid onset with severe symptoms but is short in duration Which of the following is true about chronic infections? NURS 5315 NURS 5315 A) They last for a short period and are easily treated B) The pathogen load is quickly cleared by the immune system C) The infection persists for an extended period, sometimes for life D) Symptoms are always absent during chronic infections - Correct Answer-C) The infection persists for an extended period, sometimes for life Which of the following infections is an example of a chronic infection? A) Common cold B) Acute influenza C) HIV/AIDS D) Meningitis - Correct Answer-C) HIV/AIDS A subclinical infection: A) Causes noticeable symptoms B) Shows no symptoms but can still be transmitted to others C) Leads to severe tissue damage D) Causes the body to produce an immune response immediately - Correct Answer-B) Shows no symptoms but can still be transmitted to others Which of the following structures is unique to bacterial cells? A) Nucleoid B) Ribosomes C) Cell wall made of peptidoglycan D) Plasma membrane - Correct Answer-C) Cell wall made of peptidoglycan Which of the following pathogens can change forms depending on environmental conditions? A) Bacteria B) Viruses C) Fungi D) Protozoa - Correct Answer-C) Fungi Which of the following is a characteristic of viruses? A) They have a cell wall made of peptidoglycan B) They can reproduce outside a host cell C) They require a host cell to replicate D) They can survive without a host cell for long periods - Correct Answer-C) They require a host cell to replicate Which of the following is a characteristic of a viral capsid? a) Protects the host cell from the virus b) Protein coat that protects the nucleic acid core c) Site of viral replication d) Contains ribosomes for protein synthesis - Correct Answer-b) Protein coat that protects the nucleic acid core NURS 5315 NURS 5315 Which type of genetic material can viruses possess? a) Only DNA b) Only RNA c) Either DNA or RNA, which can be single-stranded or double-stranded d) Both DNA and RNA at the same time - Correct Answer-c) Either DNA or RNA, which can be single-stranded or double-stranded How do viruses replicate within a host? a) They reproduce by binary fission b) They rely on the host cell's machinery for replication c) They replicate independently of the host cell d) They form spores to reproduce - Correct Answer-b) They rely on the host cell's machinery for replication What is the first step in viral replication? a) Uncoating b) Attachment to host cell receptors c) Assembly of new virions d) Release of new virions - Correct Answer-b) Attachment to host cell receptors Which of the following is a characteristic of viral latency? a) Viruses immediately cause symptoms b) Some viruses remain dormant, like herpesvirus c) Viruses replicate continuously without stopping d) Latency only occurs in bacteria - Correct Answer-b) Some viruses remain dormant, like herpesvirus Antigenic variation in viruses allows them to: a) Infect multiple host species b) Evade the immune response through antigenic drift and shift c) Replicate faster d) Maintain the host's immune system in a constant state of alert - Correct Answer-b) Evade the immune response through antigenic drift and shift Which viral replication step involves the release of new virions from the host cell? a) Entry b) Uncoating c) Assembly d) Release - Correct Answer-d) Release How do some viruses evade the immune system? a) By changing their surface antigens b) By staying inside host cells without replication c) By producing antibiotics d) By destroying host immune cells - Correct Answer-a) By changing their surface antigens NURS 5315 NURS 5315 What is the main difference between molds and yeasts? a) Molds are unicellular, and yeasts are multicellular b) Molds are aerobic, and yeasts are anaerobic c) Molds are multicellular, and yeasts are unicellular d) Molds and yeasts are identical - Correct Answer-c) Molds are multicellular, and yeasts are unicellular What does the cell wall of fungi primarily consist of? a) Peptidoglycan b) Chitin c) Cellulose d) Glycogen - Correct Answer-b) Chitin Which of the following is true about dimorphic fungi? a) They can only grow in yeast form b) They switch between mold and yeast forms depending on environmental conditions c) They are strictly yeast-like in appearance d) They are multicellular only in yeast form - Correct Answer-b) They switch between mold and yeast forms depending on environmental conditions What is the primary pathogenic mechanism of fungi? a) Invading host cells and causing direct cell damage b) Producing endotoxins that harm the host c) Secreting enzymes and toxins to degrade host tissues d) Releasing viral particles that infect host cells - Correct Answer-c) Secreting enzymes and toxins to degrade host tissues Which component of the fungal cell membrane is unique and not found in human cells? a) Cholesterol b) Phospholipids c) Ergosterol d) Sphingolipids - Correct Answer-c) Ergosterol Which of the following best describes the role of phagocytes in fungal infections? a) They cause the initial fungal infection b) They limit the infection by activating T-cells and producing cytokines c) They contribute to fungal replication d) They act as the primary source of fungal spores - Correct Answer-b) They limit the infection by activating T-cells and producing cytokines Which bacterial structure is responsible for adhesion to host cells? a) Flagella b) Pilus c) Capsule d) Ribosomes - Correct Answer-b) Pilus NURS 5315 NURS 5315 What is the primary function of the bacterial capsule? a) To help the bacterium move toward nutrients b) To protect the bacterium from phagocytosis and desiccation c) To store nutrients for later use d) To synthesize proteins - Correct Answer-b) To protect the bacterium from phagocytosis and desiccation What is a common clinical manifestation of Gram-negative bacterial infections? a) Localized skin infections b) Systemic infections such as septicemia and pneumonia c) Chronic infections like tuberculosis d) Flaccid paralysis - Correct Answer-b) Systemic infections such as septicemia and pneumonia Which type of bacteria causes infections by producing endotoxins th