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Nursing 354 Infectious Disease Nursing
Practice Exam Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant Download
Pdf
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1. Which microorganism is classified as a bacterium?
A. Candida albicans
B. Influenza virus
C. Streptococcus pneumoniae
D. Plasmodium falciparum
Answer: Streptococcus pneumoniae
Rationale: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a bacterium that can cause pneumonia,
meningitis, otitis media, and other infections.
2. Which intervention is the most effective way to prevent transmission of
healthcare-associated infections?
A. Wearing a surgical mask at all times
B. Performing hand hygiene appropriately
C. Administering antibiotics prophylactically
D. Using sterile gloves for every patient
,Answer: Performing hand hygiene appropriately
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the most important routine measure for preventing
transmission of microorganisms in healthcare settings.
3. A patient with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis should initially be placed
on which type of isolation?
A. Contact precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Airborne precautions
D. Protective precautions
Answer: Airborne precautions
Rationale: Pulmonary tuberculosis spreads through airborne particles and
requires airborne precautions, including a fit-tested respirator for healthcare
personnel.
4. Which personal protective equipment is most appropriate when caring for a
patient with Clostridioides difficile infection?
A. N95 respirator only
B. Surgical mask only
C. Gloves and gown
D. Sterile gloves only
Answer: Gloves and gown
Rationale: C. difficile spores can contaminate surfaces and hands, so contact
precautions with gloves and gown are required.
5. Which infection is caused by a virus?
A. Tuberculosis
B. Candidiasis
C. Streptococcal pharyngitis
D. Influenza
Answer: Influenza
,Rationale: Influenza is caused by influenza viruses, whereas tuberculosis and
streptococcal pharyngitis are bacterial infections.
6. Which finding is most concerning in a patient with sepsis?
A. Temperature of 37.5°C
B. Heart rate of 82/min
C. New-onset confusion and hypotension
D. Mild fatigue
Answer: New-onset confusion and hypotension
Rationale: Altered mental status and hypotension may indicate impaired tissue
perfusion and progression of sepsis toward septic shock.
7. Which vaccine is routinely recommended to help prevent hepatitis B
infection?
A. Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine
B. Varicella vaccine
C. Hepatitis B vaccine
D. Pneumococcal vaccine
Answer: Hepatitis B vaccine
Rationale: Hepatitis B vaccination provides active immunity against hepatitis B
virus and is routinely recommended beginning in infancy.
8. A patient with suspected meningococcal meningitis should initially receive
which precaution?
A. Airborne
B. Contact
C. Droplet
D. Protective
Answer: Droplet
Rationale: Neisseria meningitidis is transmitted primarily through respiratory
droplets, so droplet precautions are indicated.
, 9. Which symptom is commonly associated with infectious mononucleosis?
A. Severe hypertension
B. Fatigue, fever, and lymphadenopathy
C. Productive cough with rust-colored sputum
D. Painless genital ulcer
Answer: Fatigue, fever, and lymphadenopathy
Rationale: Infectious mononucleosis, commonly caused by Epstein-Barr virus,
often produces fever, marked fatigue, pharyngitis, and lymphadenopathy.
10.Which organism commonly causes oral thrush?
A. Escherichia coli
B. Staphylococcus aureus
C. Candida albicans
D. Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Answer: Candida albicans
Rationale: Candida albicans is a yeast that can cause oral candidiasis,
particularly in patients receiving antibiotics or with impaired immunity.
11.Which assessment finding is most characteristic of dehydration associated
with infectious diarrhea?
A. Bounding pulse
B. Hypertension
C. Dry mucous membranes and decreased urine output
D. Peripheral edema
Answer: Dry mucous membranes and decreased urine output
Rationale: Fluid loss from diarrhea can cause dehydration, manifested by dry
mucous membranes, oliguria, tachycardia, and other signs of volume depletion.
12.Which infection is commonly transmitted through contaminated food or
water?
Nursing 354 Infectious Disease Nursing
Practice Exam Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant Download
___________________________________________________________________
1. Which microorganism is classified as a bacterium?
A. Candida albicans
B. Influenza virus
C. Streptococcus pneumoniae
D. Plasmodium falciparum
Answer: Streptococcus pneumoniae
Rationale: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a bacterium that can cause pneumonia,
meningitis, otitis media, and other infections.
2. Which intervention is the most effective way to prevent transmission of
healthcare-associated infections?
A. Wearing a surgical mask at all times
B. Performing hand hygiene appropriately
C. Administering antibiotics prophylactically
D. Using sterile gloves for every patient
,Answer: Performing hand hygiene appropriately
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the most important routine measure for preventing
transmission of microorganisms in healthcare settings.
3. A patient with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis should initially be placed
on which type of isolation?
A. Contact precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Airborne precautions
D. Protective precautions
Answer: Airborne precautions
Rationale: Pulmonary tuberculosis spreads through airborne particles and
requires airborne precautions, including a fit-tested respirator for healthcare
personnel.
4. Which personal protective equipment is most appropriate when caring for a
patient with Clostridioides difficile infection?
A. N95 respirator only
B. Surgical mask only
C. Gloves and gown
D. Sterile gloves only
Answer: Gloves and gown
Rationale: C. difficile spores can contaminate surfaces and hands, so contact
precautions with gloves and gown are required.
5. Which infection is caused by a virus?
A. Tuberculosis
B. Candidiasis
C. Streptococcal pharyngitis
D. Influenza
Answer: Influenza
,Rationale: Influenza is caused by influenza viruses, whereas tuberculosis and
streptococcal pharyngitis are bacterial infections.
6. Which finding is most concerning in a patient with sepsis?
A. Temperature of 37.5°C
B. Heart rate of 82/min
C. New-onset confusion and hypotension
D. Mild fatigue
Answer: New-onset confusion and hypotension
Rationale: Altered mental status and hypotension may indicate impaired tissue
perfusion and progression of sepsis toward septic shock.
7. Which vaccine is routinely recommended to help prevent hepatitis B
infection?
A. Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine
B. Varicella vaccine
C. Hepatitis B vaccine
D. Pneumococcal vaccine
Answer: Hepatitis B vaccine
Rationale: Hepatitis B vaccination provides active immunity against hepatitis B
virus and is routinely recommended beginning in infancy.
8. A patient with suspected meningococcal meningitis should initially receive
which precaution?
A. Airborne
B. Contact
C. Droplet
D. Protective
Answer: Droplet
Rationale: Neisseria meningitidis is transmitted primarily through respiratory
droplets, so droplet precautions are indicated.
, 9. Which symptom is commonly associated with infectious mononucleosis?
A. Severe hypertension
B. Fatigue, fever, and lymphadenopathy
C. Productive cough with rust-colored sputum
D. Painless genital ulcer
Answer: Fatigue, fever, and lymphadenopathy
Rationale: Infectious mononucleosis, commonly caused by Epstein-Barr virus,
often produces fever, marked fatigue, pharyngitis, and lymphadenopathy.
10.Which organism commonly causes oral thrush?
A. Escherichia coli
B. Staphylococcus aureus
C. Candida albicans
D. Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Answer: Candida albicans
Rationale: Candida albicans is a yeast that can cause oral candidiasis,
particularly in patients receiving antibiotics or with impaired immunity.
11.Which assessment finding is most characteristic of dehydration associated
with infectious diarrhea?
A. Bounding pulse
B. Hypertension
C. Dry mucous membranes and decreased urine output
D. Peripheral edema
Answer: Dry mucous membranes and decreased urine output
Rationale: Fluid loss from diarrhea can cause dehydration, manifested by dry
mucous membranes, oliguria, tachycardia, and other signs of volume depletion.
12.Which infection is commonly transmitted through contaminated food or
water?
