HCA100 - Preventing Infection (Chpt. 20) 2025
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS |FREQUENTLY
TESTED QUESTIONS |RECENTLY TESTING REAL
EXAM QUESTIONS|VERIFIED SOLUTIONS (100%
CORRECT)
What is an Infection & How do we Prevent? - ANSWERS-Serious safety & health hazard
-"Infection control" to prevent spread of infection in health care settings (policies & procedures)
^protects all from infection // use proper hand hygiene w/ it
(SUPPORT WORKER MUST FOLLOW EMPLOYER POLICIES)
Who is at Risk for Infection? - ANSWERS-Older persons, people with health challenges & disabilities
-Infections spread easily from person to person
****What is a Microorganism? - ANSWERS-Known as microbe/germ/bug; small living plant or animal seen
only w/ microscope
-Are everywhere; some harmful & can cause infection (pathogens)
-Nonpathogens = harmless microbe
What are the Four Types of Microbes? - ANSWERS-Bacteria:
one-cell microbe
-Viruses:
invade living cells to grow & multiply
-Fungi: live on organic matter (plants/animals)
-Parasites: organisms deriving nourishment & protection from other living organisms (hosts)
What are the Requirements for Microbes? - ANSWERS-Needs reservoir (host) to live & grow
-Need water & nourishment from reservoir; most need oxygen
-Warm & dark needed; grow best at body temp.
-Destroyed by heat & light
, What is Normal Flora? - ANSWERS-Microbes that live & grow naturally in certain area of body
-Nonpathogens when in or on natural reservoir; when transmitted from natural site to another site or host,
becomes pathogen
-Some killed when person is ill or taking meds; can increase risk for developing infection
(***skin, eyes, ears, respir. tract, digestive system, vagina, mucous membranes)
What are Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MROs)? - ANSWERS-"Superbugs"; microbes that resist effects of
antibiotics (drugs that kill microbe causing infection)
-Caused by:
overprescribed/unneeded meds & not taking antibiotics for full length of time
(Pose a serious threat to health care facilities)
What are the Three Common Types of MROs that are Resistant to Many Antibiotics? - ANSWERS-Methicillin-
resist. Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
-Vancomycin-resist. Enterococcus (VRE)
-Clostridium difficile (c. difficile)
(Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase ((ESBL)) also becoming associated w/ UTI & wound infections)
***What are the Two Types of Infection? - ANSWERS-Local: specific part of body
-Systemic: involves whole body
(disease from invasion & growth of pathogens in body part)
What are the Three Possible Outcomes of Exposure to Pathogens? - ANSWERS-Immune system destroys
pathogens
-Immune system doesn't destroy pathogen; no infection develops
-Infection develops sometime later; after exposure
What are the Health Care Associated Infections (HAI)?? - ANSWERS-Infection develops in client who is cared
for in any health care setting (traditionally called nosocomial infections)
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS |FREQUENTLY
TESTED QUESTIONS |RECENTLY TESTING REAL
EXAM QUESTIONS|VERIFIED SOLUTIONS (100%
CORRECT)
What is an Infection & How do we Prevent? - ANSWERS-Serious safety & health hazard
-"Infection control" to prevent spread of infection in health care settings (policies & procedures)
^protects all from infection // use proper hand hygiene w/ it
(SUPPORT WORKER MUST FOLLOW EMPLOYER POLICIES)
Who is at Risk for Infection? - ANSWERS-Older persons, people with health challenges & disabilities
-Infections spread easily from person to person
****What is a Microorganism? - ANSWERS-Known as microbe/germ/bug; small living plant or animal seen
only w/ microscope
-Are everywhere; some harmful & can cause infection (pathogens)
-Nonpathogens = harmless microbe
What are the Four Types of Microbes? - ANSWERS-Bacteria:
one-cell microbe
-Viruses:
invade living cells to grow & multiply
-Fungi: live on organic matter (plants/animals)
-Parasites: organisms deriving nourishment & protection from other living organisms (hosts)
What are the Requirements for Microbes? - ANSWERS-Needs reservoir (host) to live & grow
-Need water & nourishment from reservoir; most need oxygen
-Warm & dark needed; grow best at body temp.
-Destroyed by heat & light
, What is Normal Flora? - ANSWERS-Microbes that live & grow naturally in certain area of body
-Nonpathogens when in or on natural reservoir; when transmitted from natural site to another site or host,
becomes pathogen
-Some killed when person is ill or taking meds; can increase risk for developing infection
(***skin, eyes, ears, respir. tract, digestive system, vagina, mucous membranes)
What are Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MROs)? - ANSWERS-"Superbugs"; microbes that resist effects of
antibiotics (drugs that kill microbe causing infection)
-Caused by:
overprescribed/unneeded meds & not taking antibiotics for full length of time
(Pose a serious threat to health care facilities)
What are the Three Common Types of MROs that are Resistant to Many Antibiotics? - ANSWERS-Methicillin-
resist. Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
-Vancomycin-resist. Enterococcus (VRE)
-Clostridium difficile (c. difficile)
(Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase ((ESBL)) also becoming associated w/ UTI & wound infections)
***What are the Two Types of Infection? - ANSWERS-Local: specific part of body
-Systemic: involves whole body
(disease from invasion & growth of pathogens in body part)
What are the Three Possible Outcomes of Exposure to Pathogens? - ANSWERS-Immune system destroys
pathogens
-Immune system doesn't destroy pathogen; no infection develops
-Infection develops sometime later; after exposure
What are the Health Care Associated Infections (HAI)?? - ANSWERS-Infection develops in client who is cared
for in any health care setting (traditionally called nosocomial infections)
