JCCC Unit 4 Exam questions and answers
with solutions
What causes tuberculosis? - ANSWER Mycobacterium tuberculosis
How is TB commonly spread? - ANSWER Person to person through the air
How is TB not spread commonly? - ANSWER Sharing food and drink, contact with contaminated
surfaces
Latent TB Infection - ANSWER type of tuberculosis in which the person carries the disease but
does not show symptoms and cannot infect others
Active TB Infection - ANSWER shows symptoms if infection; macrophages fail to destroy the
bacteria and they multiply
Constitutional Symptoms of TB - ANSWER affect the entire body, includes:
- fevers
- chills
- night sweats
- weight loss
- anorexia
- vomiting
- fatigue
Lower Respiratory Tract Symptoms - ANSWER affect areas between the pharynx and alveoli,
includes:
,- coughing
- bloody sputum
- difficulty breathing
- chest pain
What is the time frame around active TB infection and presentation of symptoms? - ANSWER 3
weeks
Who are we most worried about acquiring TB and why? - ANSWER HIV patients; they are at the
highest risk for progressive disease both primary and secondary
Pathophysiology of TB infection - ANSWER bacteria reaches the lungs and remains in the alveoli
along the sub-plural space in the creases between the lobes, macrophages gobble them up in
the lung and some carry then to a nearby lymph node; all out war occurs between the
macrophages and the bacteria resulting in death on both sides seen as a granuloma filled with
caseous necrosis
Ghon Focus - ANSWER the formation of a granuloma, or walled off area of bacteria, which is
considered the primary lung lesion in tuberculosis
Ghon Complex - ANSWER TB granulomas (Ghon focus) w/pulmonary lymph node involvement,
reflects primary infection or exposure.
How does dormant TB become active? - ANSWER two ways: reactivation or reinfection
Reactivation of TB - ANSWER time passes and the immune system is weakened for some reason
which allows the TB bacteria to come back with a vengeance forming cavities in the lungs filled
with disease (PROGRESSIVE SECONDARY INFECTION)
, Reinfection of TB - ANSWER someone with dormant TB is reinfected with the disease
Who is more likely to spread TB, and why? - ANSWER adults infected with live bacteria; have a
stronger cough and are able to force more bacteria into the air
How do we prevent the spread of TB? - ANSWER medications (DOT therapy), isolation (sleep
alone at night, stay away from children under the age of 4), surgical masks
What might the RN wear or use in the hospital when caring for a patient with suspected/known
TB? - ANSWER N95 mask, PAPR
Goals of TB Treatment - ANSWER prevent disability and death from infection, reduce the spread
of infection to other individuals
Why are multiple medications used? - ANSWER to blast the infection and eliminate as much of
the organisms as possible as quickly as possible; decreases the emergence of resistant strains
and affects the bacteria at various phases of their long and slow life cycle
What four medications are used to treat TB? - ANSWER RIPE:
- rifampin
- isoniazid
- pyrazinamide
- ethambutol
How long does treatment for TB last? - ANSWER all four RIPE antibiotics are used for 2 months,
then rifampin and isoniazid are used for the following 4 months; longer treatments for those
with more severe disease, HIV, pregnancy, patients whose cultures remain positive throughout
treatment, and patients with resistant strains of M. tuberculosis
with solutions
What causes tuberculosis? - ANSWER Mycobacterium tuberculosis
How is TB commonly spread? - ANSWER Person to person through the air
How is TB not spread commonly? - ANSWER Sharing food and drink, contact with contaminated
surfaces
Latent TB Infection - ANSWER type of tuberculosis in which the person carries the disease but
does not show symptoms and cannot infect others
Active TB Infection - ANSWER shows symptoms if infection; macrophages fail to destroy the
bacteria and they multiply
Constitutional Symptoms of TB - ANSWER affect the entire body, includes:
- fevers
- chills
- night sweats
- weight loss
- anorexia
- vomiting
- fatigue
Lower Respiratory Tract Symptoms - ANSWER affect areas between the pharynx and alveoli,
includes:
,- coughing
- bloody sputum
- difficulty breathing
- chest pain
What is the time frame around active TB infection and presentation of symptoms? - ANSWER 3
weeks
Who are we most worried about acquiring TB and why? - ANSWER HIV patients; they are at the
highest risk for progressive disease both primary and secondary
Pathophysiology of TB infection - ANSWER bacteria reaches the lungs and remains in the alveoli
along the sub-plural space in the creases between the lobes, macrophages gobble them up in
the lung and some carry then to a nearby lymph node; all out war occurs between the
macrophages and the bacteria resulting in death on both sides seen as a granuloma filled with
caseous necrosis
Ghon Focus - ANSWER the formation of a granuloma, or walled off area of bacteria, which is
considered the primary lung lesion in tuberculosis
Ghon Complex - ANSWER TB granulomas (Ghon focus) w/pulmonary lymph node involvement,
reflects primary infection or exposure.
How does dormant TB become active? - ANSWER two ways: reactivation or reinfection
Reactivation of TB - ANSWER time passes and the immune system is weakened for some reason
which allows the TB bacteria to come back with a vengeance forming cavities in the lungs filled
with disease (PROGRESSIVE SECONDARY INFECTION)
, Reinfection of TB - ANSWER someone with dormant TB is reinfected with the disease
Who is more likely to spread TB, and why? - ANSWER adults infected with live bacteria; have a
stronger cough and are able to force more bacteria into the air
How do we prevent the spread of TB? - ANSWER medications (DOT therapy), isolation (sleep
alone at night, stay away from children under the age of 4), surgical masks
What might the RN wear or use in the hospital when caring for a patient with suspected/known
TB? - ANSWER N95 mask, PAPR
Goals of TB Treatment - ANSWER prevent disability and death from infection, reduce the spread
of infection to other individuals
Why are multiple medications used? - ANSWER to blast the infection and eliminate as much of
the organisms as possible as quickly as possible; decreases the emergence of resistant strains
and affects the bacteria at various phases of their long and slow life cycle
What four medications are used to treat TB? - ANSWER RIPE:
- rifampin
- isoniazid
- pyrazinamide
- ethambutol
How long does treatment for TB last? - ANSWER all four RIPE antibiotics are used for 2 months,
then rifampin and isoniazid are used for the following 4 months; longer treatments for those
with more severe disease, HIV, pregnancy, patients whose cultures remain positive throughout
treatment, and patients with resistant strains of M. tuberculosis
