ATI Medical-Surgical Immune/Infectious
Disorders Exam Questions with Correct
Answers (VerifiedAnswers) Plus Rationales
2026 Q&A Instant Download PDF
Question 1 — HIV: Standard Precautions
A nurse is caring for a client who is HIV-positive and has an
opportunistic respiratory infection. Which infection-control
intervention should the nurse implement specifically because of
the client's HIV status?
A. Place the client in a negative-pressure room
B. Initiate droplet precautions for all client contact
C. Use standard precautions when handling blood and body
fluids
D. Place the client in a protective isolation room
Correct answer: C. Use standard precautions when handling
blood and body fluids
Rationale: HIV is transmitted primarily through exposure to
infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. Routine
care of a client with HIV does not require airborne, droplet, or
protective isolation solely because the client has HIV. Standard
,precautions, including appropriate hand hygiene and use of
gloves and other personal protective equipment when exposure
to potentially infectious material is anticipated, are the
foundation of infection prevention. Additional precautions are
based on any concurrent infection the client has, not on HIV
infection alone.
Question 2 — HIV: Opportunistic Infection
A client with advanced HIV infection develops fever, dyspnea,
nonproductive cough, and worsening oxygenation. Which
opportunistic infection should the nurse suspect?
A. Hepatitis A
B. Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP)
C. Lyme disease
D. Impetigo
Correct answer: B. Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP)
Rationale: Pneumocystis jirovecii is an opportunistic organism
that can cause severe pneumonia in clients with significant
immune suppression, particularly advanced HIV infection.
Typical manifestations include progressive dyspnea, fever,
nonproductive cough, and hypoxemia. The nurse should closely
monitor respiratory status and oxygenation and recognize
worsening hypoxemia as a priority finding. The other conditions
,do not characteristically produce this classic opportunistic-
pneumonia presentation in an immunocompromised client.
Question 3 — HIV: Medication Adherence
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is prescribed
combination antiretroviral therapy. Which statement by the
client demonstrates correct understanding?
A. "I can stop the medications once my viral load becomes
undetectable."
B. "I only need the medications when I develop symptoms."
C. "I should take my medications consistently as prescribed
even when I feel well."
D. "I should take only one medication at a time to reduce
adverse effects."
Correct answer: C. "I should take my medications consistently
as prescribed even when I feel well."
Rationale: Antiretroviral therapy is intended to suppress HIV
replication and reduce the viral load, preserve immune function,
and decrease the risk of disease progression. Consistent
adherence is essential because missed doses can permit viral
replication and contribute to treatment failure and drug
resistance. An undetectable viral load does not mean the
infection has been eradicated, so therapy should not be stopped
, without direction from the prescribing clinician. Combination
therapy is used because multiple medications acting through
different mechanisms provide more effective viral suppression.
Question 4 — HIV: Kaposi Sarcoma
A nurse is assessing a client with advanced HIV infection. Which
finding is most suggestive of Kaposi sarcoma?
A. White plaques that scrape off the tongue
B. Vesicles following a dermatome
C. Violaceous or dark reddish-purple skin lesions
D. Honey-colored crusts surrounding the mouth
Correct answer: C. Violaceous or dark reddish-purple skin
lesions
Rationale: Kaposi sarcoma is a vascular tumor associated with
human herpesvirus 8 and is more common in people with
significant immune suppression, including advanced HIV
infection. Lesions may appear as purple, red, brown, or
violaceous macules, plaques, or nodules and can occur on the
skin or mucous membranes. White plaques that scrape away
suggest oral candidiasis, vesicles in a dermatomal distribution
suggest herpes zoster, and honey-colored crusting is
characteristic of impetigo.
Disorders Exam Questions with Correct
Answers (VerifiedAnswers) Plus Rationales
2026 Q&A Instant Download PDF
Question 1 — HIV: Standard Precautions
A nurse is caring for a client who is HIV-positive and has an
opportunistic respiratory infection. Which infection-control
intervention should the nurse implement specifically because of
the client's HIV status?
A. Place the client in a negative-pressure room
B. Initiate droplet precautions for all client contact
C. Use standard precautions when handling blood and body
fluids
D. Place the client in a protective isolation room
Correct answer: C. Use standard precautions when handling
blood and body fluids
Rationale: HIV is transmitted primarily through exposure to
infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. Routine
care of a client with HIV does not require airborne, droplet, or
protective isolation solely because the client has HIV. Standard
,precautions, including appropriate hand hygiene and use of
gloves and other personal protective equipment when exposure
to potentially infectious material is anticipated, are the
foundation of infection prevention. Additional precautions are
based on any concurrent infection the client has, not on HIV
infection alone.
Question 2 — HIV: Opportunistic Infection
A client with advanced HIV infection develops fever, dyspnea,
nonproductive cough, and worsening oxygenation. Which
opportunistic infection should the nurse suspect?
A. Hepatitis A
B. Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP)
C. Lyme disease
D. Impetigo
Correct answer: B. Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP)
Rationale: Pneumocystis jirovecii is an opportunistic organism
that can cause severe pneumonia in clients with significant
immune suppression, particularly advanced HIV infection.
Typical manifestations include progressive dyspnea, fever,
nonproductive cough, and hypoxemia. The nurse should closely
monitor respiratory status and oxygenation and recognize
worsening hypoxemia as a priority finding. The other conditions
,do not characteristically produce this classic opportunistic-
pneumonia presentation in an immunocompromised client.
Question 3 — HIV: Medication Adherence
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is prescribed
combination antiretroviral therapy. Which statement by the
client demonstrates correct understanding?
A. "I can stop the medications once my viral load becomes
undetectable."
B. "I only need the medications when I develop symptoms."
C. "I should take my medications consistently as prescribed
even when I feel well."
D. "I should take only one medication at a time to reduce
adverse effects."
Correct answer: C. "I should take my medications consistently
as prescribed even when I feel well."
Rationale: Antiretroviral therapy is intended to suppress HIV
replication and reduce the viral load, preserve immune function,
and decrease the risk of disease progression. Consistent
adherence is essential because missed doses can permit viral
replication and contribute to treatment failure and drug
resistance. An undetectable viral load does not mean the
infection has been eradicated, so therapy should not be stopped
, without direction from the prescribing clinician. Combination
therapy is used because multiple medications acting through
different mechanisms provide more effective viral suppression.
Question 4 — HIV: Kaposi Sarcoma
A nurse is assessing a client with advanced HIV infection. Which
finding is most suggestive of Kaposi sarcoma?
A. White plaques that scrape off the tongue
B. Vesicles following a dermatome
C. Violaceous or dark reddish-purple skin lesions
D. Honey-colored crusts surrounding the mouth
Correct answer: C. Violaceous or dark reddish-purple skin
lesions
Rationale: Kaposi sarcoma is a vascular tumor associated with
human herpesvirus 8 and is more common in people with
significant immune suppression, including advanced HIV
infection. Lesions may appear as purple, red, brown, or
violaceous macules, plaques, or nodules and can occur on the
skin or mucous membranes. White plaques that scrape away
suggest oral candidiasis, vesicles in a dermatomal distribution
suggest herpes zoster, and honey-colored crusting is
characteristic of impetigo.
