NUR 340 EXAM 250 QUESTIONS & CORRECT
ANSWERS LATEST 2025
Identify 4 ways patients can decrease the risk of antibiotic-resistant infections and
explain why each one decreases risk. - ANSWER-"1. Do Not Take Antibiotics to
Prevent Illness (unless prescribed)
Doing this increases your risk for developing resistant infection. Exceptions
include taking antibiotics as prescribed before certain surgeries and dental work or
in the presence of immune dysfunction.
2. Wash Your Hands Frequently
Hand washing is the single most important thing you can do to prevent infection.
3. Follow Directions When Taking Antibiotics
Not taking your antibiotic as prescribed or skipping doses can allow antibiotic-
resistant bacteria to develop.
4. Do Not Request an Antibiotic for Flu or Colds
If your health care provider says that you do not need an antibiotic, chances are
you do not. Antibiotics are effective against bacterial infections but not viruses,
which cause colds and flu.
5. Finish Your Antibiotic
Do not stop taking your antibiotic when you feel better. If you stop taking your
antibiotic early, the hardiest bacteria survive and multiply. Eventually you could
develop an infection resistant to many antibiotics. You should never have leftover
antibiotics.
6. Do Not Take Leftover Antibiotics
Do not save unfinished antibiotics for later use or borrow leftover drugs from
family or friends. This is dangerous because (1) the leftover antibiotic may not be
appropriate for you, (2) your illness may not be a bacterial infection, (3) old
,antibiotics can lose their effectiveness and in some cases can even be fatal, and (4)
there will not be enough doses in a leftover bottle to provide full treatment."
(Lewis 230 Table 15-7)
A) List three bacteria that frequently cause health care-associated infection.
B) Which patients are at highest risk for acquiring a health care-associated
infection? - ANSWER-Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-
resistant enterococci (VRE), and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae
Geriatric are 2-3x more likely to acquire a HAI compared to the adult population
d/t co-morbidities, risk for infection & atypical presentation (cog/beh changes,
acute inability to perform daily activities, lower core temp)
Describe the most effective strategy for decreasing health care-associated
infections. - ANSWER-Hand washing and use of gloves are best practice to reduce
HAI's.
Identify 2 ways bacteria and viruses differ from each other. - ANSWER-Bacteria
are one celled organisms while viruses are infectious particles with no cellular
structure. Viruses spread by releasing genetic material into the cells of a living
organism while bacteria cause disease by growing inside cells & causing damage
to the outside of cells by secreting toxins.
How do mosquitoes spread West Nile virus? What early warning sign does a health
department watch for when controlling for this virus? - ANSWER-"West Nile
virus is carried and transmitted by mosquitoes. Mosquitoes acquire the virus as
they draw blood from infected animals and people. The virus does not cause illness
in the mosquito, but can be transferred to uninfected animals and humans as the
mosquito continues to feed. Bird deaths are an early warning sign of a West Nile
virus outbreak" (Lewis 228)
,Identify 4 factors that increased the risk for the widespread distribution of
emerging infections such as novel influenza viruses or measles. - ANSWER-
"Global travel, population density, encroachment into new environments, misuse
of antibiotics, and bioterrorism have increased the risk for widespread distribution
of emerging infections." (Lewis 228)
How do antimicrobials work - ANSWER-Selective Toxicity
take advantage of the differences in cellular chemistry between mammals and
microbes.
-Disrupt bacterial cell wall
-Inhibit enzymes critical to bacterial survival
-Disrupt ribosomal protein synthesis in bacteria
How are antimicrobials classified - ANSWER-By action (Bactericidal,
Bacteriostatic)
& effectiveness (Broad spectrum.
Narrow spectrum)
Bactericidal - ANSWER-Directly lethal to bacteria at specific concentrations
Ex: aminoglycosides (Gentamicin)
Bacteriostatic - ANSWER-Slow down bacterial growth, but not lethal
Healthy immune system works with phagocytes to eliminate bacteria
Ex: tetracyclines
, won't work well in immunosupressed, elderly bc works w/ immune system
What kind of antibacterial do you give to immunosuppressed patients & why -
ANSWER-bactericidal, bacteriostatic work w/ immune system (phagocytes
eliminate bacteria)
Broad spectrum antibacterial - ANSWER-effective against wide variety of bacteria
Penicillins: ampicillin
Cephalosporins - 3rd generation (cefotaxime)
Carbapenems - imipenem
Tetracyclines - doxycycline
Fluoroquinolones: ciprofloxacin
Narrow spectrum antibacterial - ANSWER-effective against specific bacteria
Penicillin G and V
Vancomycin
Erythromycin
Aminoglycosides: gentamicin, amikacin
Cephalosporins: 1st (cephalexin) and 2nd generation (cefoxitin)
Acquired resistance - ANSWER-The microbes become resistant, not the host.
All antibiotics have potential to promote development of resistant microbes.
Caused by genetic mutations in the bacteria to the antibiotics
Which antibacterials have higher risk for acquired resistance? - ANSWER-Broad
spectrum antibacterials have greatest potential because they kill many competing
microbes
ANSWERS LATEST 2025
Identify 4 ways patients can decrease the risk of antibiotic-resistant infections and
explain why each one decreases risk. - ANSWER-"1. Do Not Take Antibiotics to
Prevent Illness (unless prescribed)
Doing this increases your risk for developing resistant infection. Exceptions
include taking antibiotics as prescribed before certain surgeries and dental work or
in the presence of immune dysfunction.
2. Wash Your Hands Frequently
Hand washing is the single most important thing you can do to prevent infection.
3. Follow Directions When Taking Antibiotics
Not taking your antibiotic as prescribed or skipping doses can allow antibiotic-
resistant bacteria to develop.
4. Do Not Request an Antibiotic for Flu or Colds
If your health care provider says that you do not need an antibiotic, chances are
you do not. Antibiotics are effective against bacterial infections but not viruses,
which cause colds and flu.
5. Finish Your Antibiotic
Do not stop taking your antibiotic when you feel better. If you stop taking your
antibiotic early, the hardiest bacteria survive and multiply. Eventually you could
develop an infection resistant to many antibiotics. You should never have leftover
antibiotics.
6. Do Not Take Leftover Antibiotics
Do not save unfinished antibiotics for later use or borrow leftover drugs from
family or friends. This is dangerous because (1) the leftover antibiotic may not be
appropriate for you, (2) your illness may not be a bacterial infection, (3) old
,antibiotics can lose their effectiveness and in some cases can even be fatal, and (4)
there will not be enough doses in a leftover bottle to provide full treatment."
(Lewis 230 Table 15-7)
A) List three bacteria that frequently cause health care-associated infection.
B) Which patients are at highest risk for acquiring a health care-associated
infection? - ANSWER-Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-
resistant enterococci (VRE), and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae
Geriatric are 2-3x more likely to acquire a HAI compared to the adult population
d/t co-morbidities, risk for infection & atypical presentation (cog/beh changes,
acute inability to perform daily activities, lower core temp)
Describe the most effective strategy for decreasing health care-associated
infections. - ANSWER-Hand washing and use of gloves are best practice to reduce
HAI's.
Identify 2 ways bacteria and viruses differ from each other. - ANSWER-Bacteria
are one celled organisms while viruses are infectious particles with no cellular
structure. Viruses spread by releasing genetic material into the cells of a living
organism while bacteria cause disease by growing inside cells & causing damage
to the outside of cells by secreting toxins.
How do mosquitoes spread West Nile virus? What early warning sign does a health
department watch for when controlling for this virus? - ANSWER-"West Nile
virus is carried and transmitted by mosquitoes. Mosquitoes acquire the virus as
they draw blood from infected animals and people. The virus does not cause illness
in the mosquito, but can be transferred to uninfected animals and humans as the
mosquito continues to feed. Bird deaths are an early warning sign of a West Nile
virus outbreak" (Lewis 228)
,Identify 4 factors that increased the risk for the widespread distribution of
emerging infections such as novel influenza viruses or measles. - ANSWER-
"Global travel, population density, encroachment into new environments, misuse
of antibiotics, and bioterrorism have increased the risk for widespread distribution
of emerging infections." (Lewis 228)
How do antimicrobials work - ANSWER-Selective Toxicity
take advantage of the differences in cellular chemistry between mammals and
microbes.
-Disrupt bacterial cell wall
-Inhibit enzymes critical to bacterial survival
-Disrupt ribosomal protein synthesis in bacteria
How are antimicrobials classified - ANSWER-By action (Bactericidal,
Bacteriostatic)
& effectiveness (Broad spectrum.
Narrow spectrum)
Bactericidal - ANSWER-Directly lethal to bacteria at specific concentrations
Ex: aminoglycosides (Gentamicin)
Bacteriostatic - ANSWER-Slow down bacterial growth, but not lethal
Healthy immune system works with phagocytes to eliminate bacteria
Ex: tetracyclines
, won't work well in immunosupressed, elderly bc works w/ immune system
What kind of antibacterial do you give to immunosuppressed patients & why -
ANSWER-bactericidal, bacteriostatic work w/ immune system (phagocytes
eliminate bacteria)
Broad spectrum antibacterial - ANSWER-effective against wide variety of bacteria
Penicillins: ampicillin
Cephalosporins - 3rd generation (cefotaxime)
Carbapenems - imipenem
Tetracyclines - doxycycline
Fluoroquinolones: ciprofloxacin
Narrow spectrum antibacterial - ANSWER-effective against specific bacteria
Penicillin G and V
Vancomycin
Erythromycin
Aminoglycosides: gentamicin, amikacin
Cephalosporins: 1st (cephalexin) and 2nd generation (cefoxitin)
Acquired resistance - ANSWER-The microbes become resistant, not the host.
All antibiotics have potential to promote development of resistant microbes.
Caused by genetic mutations in the bacteria to the antibiotics
Which antibacterials have higher risk for acquired resistance? - ANSWER-Broad
spectrum antibacterials have greatest potential because they kill many competing
microbes
