NUR 215 Exam 2 [2026] LATEST UPDATE | VERIFIED
Questions & Correct Answers | Detailed Answer
Explanations | A+
• infection -✓✓ invasion and multiplication of pathogen in the body
• HAIs -✓✓ healthcare associated infections
• common HAIs -✓✓ - central-line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI)
- C.diff
- pneumonia
- MRSA
- surgical site infections (staph, strep, pneumo)
- UTI
- catheter-associated UTIs
• asepsis -✓✓ absence of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms
• pathogen -✓✓ bacterium, virus, microorganisms that cause disease
• prodromal -✓✓ ("pro"=before) period between onset of initial symptoms and full
development of fever/rash
• convalescence -✓✓ time spent recovering from illness
• malaise -✓✓ general feeling of illness and discomfort; difficult to pinpoint cause
• PPE -✓✓ personal protective equipment/gear
• TB -✓✓ mycobacterium tuberculosis affecting the lungs; preventable and curable
• bacteria -✓✓ aka germs, microscopic, disease-causing organisms
(EX: staphylococcus aureus, E.coli, Salmonella)
• viruses -✓✓ submicroscopic infectious agent that reproduces with host's genetic
machinery
(EX: HIV, COVID, hepatitis A/B/C, measles/mumps)
• fungi -✓✓ spore-forming organisms; mold yeast
, • prions -✓✓ misfolded protein particles that can transmit their misfolded shapes into
normal variants of the same protein - cause neurogenerative diseases in humans
(EX: new varian Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, COVID strains)
• parasites -✓✓ organisms that live on/in other protozoa and benefits from deriving
nutrients from the hose
(EX: fleas, tapeworms, bot flies, flatworms, roundworms)
• Transmission chain of infection -✓✓ 1. causative/infectious agent: pathogen capable of
causing disease/illness
2. reservoir: place where the pathogen grows and multiplies (living vs. nonliving)
3. portals of exit: ways pathogen leaves the reservoir (bodily fluids)
4. modes of transmission: ways the pathogen spreads from reservoir to the next
person/susceptible host (contact, droplet, airborne, vector)
5. portals of entry: ways pathogen enters the susceptible host
6. susceptible host: compromised individuals that are susceptible to infection and
severity of disease
7. cycle repeats
• stages of infection -✓✓ 1. incubation: period between pathogen entering body and
onset of symptoms (person not aware but can still infect)
2. prodromal: pathogen multiples and triggers body's immune system; first appearance
of vague symptoms
3. illness stage: findings/symptoms are more specific to the infection; if immune system
is ineffective, can lead to death
4. decline stage: immune system successfully reduces # of pathogens; infection
declines; sxs improve
5. convalescence: period when sxs disappear and person fully improves (days-months);
0 microorganisms
• local infection -✓✓ occurs in specific region or limited area of the body
EX: UTI, ear infection
Questions & Correct Answers | Detailed Answer
Explanations | A+
• infection -✓✓ invasion and multiplication of pathogen in the body
• HAIs -✓✓ healthcare associated infections
• common HAIs -✓✓ - central-line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI)
- C.diff
- pneumonia
- MRSA
- surgical site infections (staph, strep, pneumo)
- UTI
- catheter-associated UTIs
• asepsis -✓✓ absence of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms
• pathogen -✓✓ bacterium, virus, microorganisms that cause disease
• prodromal -✓✓ ("pro"=before) period between onset of initial symptoms and full
development of fever/rash
• convalescence -✓✓ time spent recovering from illness
• malaise -✓✓ general feeling of illness and discomfort; difficult to pinpoint cause
• PPE -✓✓ personal protective equipment/gear
• TB -✓✓ mycobacterium tuberculosis affecting the lungs; preventable and curable
• bacteria -✓✓ aka germs, microscopic, disease-causing organisms
(EX: staphylococcus aureus, E.coli, Salmonella)
• viruses -✓✓ submicroscopic infectious agent that reproduces with host's genetic
machinery
(EX: HIV, COVID, hepatitis A/B/C, measles/mumps)
• fungi -✓✓ spore-forming organisms; mold yeast
, • prions -✓✓ misfolded protein particles that can transmit their misfolded shapes into
normal variants of the same protein - cause neurogenerative diseases in humans
(EX: new varian Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, COVID strains)
• parasites -✓✓ organisms that live on/in other protozoa and benefits from deriving
nutrients from the hose
(EX: fleas, tapeworms, bot flies, flatworms, roundworms)
• Transmission chain of infection -✓✓ 1. causative/infectious agent: pathogen capable of
causing disease/illness
2. reservoir: place where the pathogen grows and multiplies (living vs. nonliving)
3. portals of exit: ways pathogen leaves the reservoir (bodily fluids)
4. modes of transmission: ways the pathogen spreads from reservoir to the next
person/susceptible host (contact, droplet, airborne, vector)
5. portals of entry: ways pathogen enters the susceptible host
6. susceptible host: compromised individuals that are susceptible to infection and
severity of disease
7. cycle repeats
• stages of infection -✓✓ 1. incubation: period between pathogen entering body and
onset of symptoms (person not aware but can still infect)
2. prodromal: pathogen multiples and triggers body's immune system; first appearance
of vague symptoms
3. illness stage: findings/symptoms are more specific to the infection; if immune system
is ineffective, can lead to death
4. decline stage: immune system successfully reduces # of pathogens; infection
declines; sxs improve
5. convalescence: period when sxs disappear and person fully improves (days-months);
0 microorganisms
• local infection -✓✓ occurs in specific region or limited area of the body
EX: UTI, ear infection
