Chapter 14 Risk of Infectious and Communicable Diseases
Origin: Chapter 14- Risk of Infectious and Communicable Diseases, 1
1. The nurse works with a female client who recently developed an infection of
Staphylococcus aureus while in the hospital. In this case, S. aureus is which component
in the chain of infection?
A) Host
B) Environmental reservoir
C) Agent
D) Portal
Ans: C
Feedback:
The agent, or the microbe that causes the disease, is the “what” of the epidemiologic
triangle. The host, or the organism that is harboring the infectious agent, is the “who” of
the triangle. The environment, which includes those external factors that cause or allow
disease transmission, is the “where” of the triangle. Other necessary elements include a
portal of exit from the host, environmental reservoirs, transmission, and a portal of entry
to a new host.
Origin: Chapter 14- Risk of Infectious and Communicable Diseases, 2
2. A student nurse asks if an infectious disease is the same thing as a communicable
disease. The nurse explains that an infectious disease is not necessarily a communicable
disease. Which must a communicable disease have that an infectious disease does not
have to have? (Select all that apply.)
A) Pathogenic microorganism
B) Portal of exit from the infected person
C) Means of transmission
D) Portal of entry to a susceptible host
E) Organism that harbors the infectious agent
Ans: B, C, D
Feedback:
,An infectious disease in a human host is one caused by the growth of pathogenic
microorganisms in the body. For a disease to be communicable, or contagious, there
must be a portal of exit from the infected person (or animal), a means of transmission,
and a portal of entry to a susceptible host. Thus, an infectious disease need not be
contagious, or communicable.
, Origin: Chapter 14- Risk of Infectious and Communicable Diseases, 3
3. Infectious agents are biological agents capable of producing an infection or infectious
disease. Which are considered biological agents? (Select all that apply.)
A) Fungi
B) Fomites
C) Bacteria
D) Viruses
E) Helminths
Ans: A, C, D, E
Feedback:
Infectious agents are biological agents capable of producing an infection or infectious
disease and include bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, fungi, protozoa, and helminths.
Fomites are any substance that adheres to and transmits infectious materials. An
infectious disease need not be contagious or communicable.
Origin: Chapter 14- Risk of Infectious and Communicable Diseases, 4
4. In infectious disease epidemiology, just the presence of an infectious agent is not
sufficient to produce an infectious disease. Which host factors determine whether a
person is at risk for an infection or an infectious disease? (Select all that apply.)
A) Age
B) Sex
C) Occupation
D) Physical and emotional health
E) Immune status
Ans: A, B, D, E
Feedback:
There are several host factors that determine whether a person is at risk for an infection
or an infectious disease. These include age, sex, race, physical and emotional health, and
immune status. Occupation is not a host factor.
Origin: Chapter 14- Risk of Infectious and Communicable Diseases, 1
1. The nurse works with a female client who recently developed an infection of
Staphylococcus aureus while in the hospital. In this case, S. aureus is which component
in the chain of infection?
A) Host
B) Environmental reservoir
C) Agent
D) Portal
Ans: C
Feedback:
The agent, or the microbe that causes the disease, is the “what” of the epidemiologic
triangle. The host, or the organism that is harboring the infectious agent, is the “who” of
the triangle. The environment, which includes those external factors that cause or allow
disease transmission, is the “where” of the triangle. Other necessary elements include a
portal of exit from the host, environmental reservoirs, transmission, and a portal of entry
to a new host.
Origin: Chapter 14- Risk of Infectious and Communicable Diseases, 2
2. A student nurse asks if an infectious disease is the same thing as a communicable
disease. The nurse explains that an infectious disease is not necessarily a communicable
disease. Which must a communicable disease have that an infectious disease does not
have to have? (Select all that apply.)
A) Pathogenic microorganism
B) Portal of exit from the infected person
C) Means of transmission
D) Portal of entry to a susceptible host
E) Organism that harbors the infectious agent
Ans: B, C, D
Feedback:
,An infectious disease in a human host is one caused by the growth of pathogenic
microorganisms in the body. For a disease to be communicable, or contagious, there
must be a portal of exit from the infected person (or animal), a means of transmission,
and a portal of entry to a susceptible host. Thus, an infectious disease need not be
contagious, or communicable.
, Origin: Chapter 14- Risk of Infectious and Communicable Diseases, 3
3. Infectious agents are biological agents capable of producing an infection or infectious
disease. Which are considered biological agents? (Select all that apply.)
A) Fungi
B) Fomites
C) Bacteria
D) Viruses
E) Helminths
Ans: A, C, D, E
Feedback:
Infectious agents are biological agents capable of producing an infection or infectious
disease and include bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, fungi, protozoa, and helminths.
Fomites are any substance that adheres to and transmits infectious materials. An
infectious disease need not be contagious or communicable.
Origin: Chapter 14- Risk of Infectious and Communicable Diseases, 4
4. In infectious disease epidemiology, just the presence of an infectious agent is not
sufficient to produce an infectious disease. Which host factors determine whether a
person is at risk for an infection or an infectious disease? (Select all that apply.)
A) Age
B) Sex
C) Occupation
D) Physical and emotional health
E) Immune status
Ans: A, B, D, E
Feedback:
There are several host factors that determine whether a person is at risk for an infection
or an infectious disease. These include age, sex, race, physical and emotional health, and
immune status. Occupation is not a host factor.
