PSW 1217 Exam UPDATED QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
What is an infection? - CORRECT ANSWER An illness caused by the invasion of germs in the
body
What is a local infection? - CORRECT ANSWER An infection specific to a body part
What is a systemic infection? - CORRECT ANSWER An infection that involves the whole
body
Why can infection be a serious health and safety hazard to patients? - CORRECT
ANSWER Delays recovery, prolongs hospital stay, creates long term health problems, causes
death
What must a PSW do to prevent infection? - CORRECT ANSWER Understand how infections
spread, follow infection prevention & control policies, and understand how to prevent infections
What is a microorganism? - CORRECT ANSWER A form of life that is so small its can be seen
only with a microscope. Micro (very small), organism (form of life).
What are the 4 types of microorganisms? - CORRECT ANSWER Bacteria, viruses, fungi,
parasites
Where do bacteria live? - CORRECT ANSWER Naturally on everything
Are bacteria harmful? - CORRECT ANSWER Can be pathogenic (cause illness) or non-
pathogenic (don't cause illness)
How fast do bacteria multiply? - CORRECT ANSWER Quickly
What is the name of the hard shell bacteria are surrounded by? - CORRECT
ANSWER Endospore
,How are bacteria treated? - CORRECT ANSWER Antibiotics
What do viruses do? - CORRECT ANSWER Infect and disrupt living cells
How do viruses grow? - CORRECT ANSWER They take over the living cell and use it to grow
and multiply.
Can viruses be dormant? - CORRECT ANSWER Yes, and then can activate again years later.
How are viruses killed? - CORRECT ANSWER Antivirals (NOT antibiotics)
How can viruses be prevented? - CORRECT ANSWER Vaccination
Where does fungus live? - CORRECT ANSWER Organic matter (e.g. humans, animals, plants)
What are yeasts and molds? - CORRECT ANSWER Fungi
Where are fungi commonly found? - CORRECT ANSWER Mouth, groin, feet, and skin
What are examples of fungal infections? - CORRECT ANSWER Athlete's foot, vaginal yeast
infection
How are fungal infections treated? - CORRECT ANSWER Antifungals
How do parasites get their nourishment? - CORRECT ANSWER By living off another living
thing
How are parasites transmitted? - CORRECT ANSWER Human to human or animal to human
through contaminated food and water
, Do you require a microscope to see parasites? - CORRECT ANSWER Can sometimes be seen
without the microscope
What are examples of parasites? - CORRECT ANSWER Lice, mites, pinworms
Where do microbes grow the best? - CORRECT ANSWER Warm, wet and dark places. Body
temperature, especially on wet skin
What does MRO stand for? - CORRECT ANSWER Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms
What are three common MROs? - CORRECT ANSWER VRE, MRSA, and C-Diff
What happens to people who get C-Diff? - CORRECT ANSWER Severe diarrhea in patients
who are taking antibiotics
What are normal flora? - CORRECT ANSWER Microorganisms that are normally found on the
surface of the skin, mucous membranes, and in the gastro-intestinal tract. Can be beneficial/
Can microbes survive long on surfaces? - CORRECT ANSWER Yes
What causes organisms to become MROs? - CORRECT ANSWER Over-use of and not
finishing antibiotics. MROs learn to change their DNA and structure to protect themselves against
antibiotics.
Where can MROs spread easily? - CORRECT ANSWER Hospitals
What does HAI stand for? - CORRECT ANSWER hospital acquired infection
What is a hospital acquired infection? - CORRECT ANSWER An infection patients get after
being admitted to a healthcare facility, or acquire from a health care provider.
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
What is an infection? - CORRECT ANSWER An illness caused by the invasion of germs in the
body
What is a local infection? - CORRECT ANSWER An infection specific to a body part
What is a systemic infection? - CORRECT ANSWER An infection that involves the whole
body
Why can infection be a serious health and safety hazard to patients? - CORRECT
ANSWER Delays recovery, prolongs hospital stay, creates long term health problems, causes
death
What must a PSW do to prevent infection? - CORRECT ANSWER Understand how infections
spread, follow infection prevention & control policies, and understand how to prevent infections
What is a microorganism? - CORRECT ANSWER A form of life that is so small its can be seen
only with a microscope. Micro (very small), organism (form of life).
What are the 4 types of microorganisms? - CORRECT ANSWER Bacteria, viruses, fungi,
parasites
Where do bacteria live? - CORRECT ANSWER Naturally on everything
Are bacteria harmful? - CORRECT ANSWER Can be pathogenic (cause illness) or non-
pathogenic (don't cause illness)
How fast do bacteria multiply? - CORRECT ANSWER Quickly
What is the name of the hard shell bacteria are surrounded by? - CORRECT
ANSWER Endospore
,How are bacteria treated? - CORRECT ANSWER Antibiotics
What do viruses do? - CORRECT ANSWER Infect and disrupt living cells
How do viruses grow? - CORRECT ANSWER They take over the living cell and use it to grow
and multiply.
Can viruses be dormant? - CORRECT ANSWER Yes, and then can activate again years later.
How are viruses killed? - CORRECT ANSWER Antivirals (NOT antibiotics)
How can viruses be prevented? - CORRECT ANSWER Vaccination
Where does fungus live? - CORRECT ANSWER Organic matter (e.g. humans, animals, plants)
What are yeasts and molds? - CORRECT ANSWER Fungi
Where are fungi commonly found? - CORRECT ANSWER Mouth, groin, feet, and skin
What are examples of fungal infections? - CORRECT ANSWER Athlete's foot, vaginal yeast
infection
How are fungal infections treated? - CORRECT ANSWER Antifungals
How do parasites get their nourishment? - CORRECT ANSWER By living off another living
thing
How are parasites transmitted? - CORRECT ANSWER Human to human or animal to human
through contaminated food and water
, Do you require a microscope to see parasites? - CORRECT ANSWER Can sometimes be seen
without the microscope
What are examples of parasites? - CORRECT ANSWER Lice, mites, pinworms
Where do microbes grow the best? - CORRECT ANSWER Warm, wet and dark places. Body
temperature, especially on wet skin
What does MRO stand for? - CORRECT ANSWER Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms
What are three common MROs? - CORRECT ANSWER VRE, MRSA, and C-Diff
What happens to people who get C-Diff? - CORRECT ANSWER Severe diarrhea in patients
who are taking antibiotics
What are normal flora? - CORRECT ANSWER Microorganisms that are normally found on the
surface of the skin, mucous membranes, and in the gastro-intestinal tract. Can be beneficial/
Can microbes survive long on surfaces? - CORRECT ANSWER Yes
What causes organisms to become MROs? - CORRECT ANSWER Over-use of and not
finishing antibiotics. MROs learn to change their DNA and structure to protect themselves against
antibiotics.
Where can MROs spread easily? - CORRECT ANSWER Hospitals
What does HAI stand for? - CORRECT ANSWER hospital acquired infection
What is a hospital acquired infection? - CORRECT ANSWER An infection patients get after
being admitted to a healthcare facility, or acquire from a health care provider.
