What’s the name for a laboratory-verified infection that causes no signs or symptoms?
Colonized
Subclinical
Latent
Dormant
The Correct Answer is B
Terminology matters in infection control-knowing the difference between colonization, subclinical, latent, and active infection helps guide clinical and public health decisions.
Rationale for correct answer:
B. Subclinical: A subclinical infection is one that is confirmed by laboratory testing but does not produce noticeable signs or symptoms in the patient. These infections can still cause immune responses and may be transmissible to others.
Rationale for incorrect answers:
A. Colonized: Colonization refers to the presence of microorganisms (such as bacteria) on or in a host without tissue invasion or immune response. The person may act as a carrier but not necessarily have a laboratory-verified infection, and it's not synonymous with subclinical infection.
C. Latent: A latent infection is when the microorganism is present in the body in an inactive state and not currently causing symptoms or detectable by routine testing. However, it can reactivate.
D. Dormant: "Dormant" is more of a descriptive term than a clinical diagnosis. It implies inactivity of the pathogen but lacks the specificity of "latent" or "subclinical." It is not commonly used as a formal classification in infection terminology.
Take home points:
- A subclinical infection is lab-confirmed but asymptomatic, meaning the patient may unknowingly harbor and potentially spread the disease.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Infectious agents can be transmitted through several routes, including direct contact, vehicles (like contaminated food or water), airborne particles, and living carriers known as vectors.
Rationale for correct answer:
A. Vector-borne transmission occurs when a living organism, usually an arthropod such as a mosquito, flea, or tick, carries and transmits pathogens to humans. The vector plays an essential role in the life cycle of the infectious agent.
Rationale for incorrect answers:
B. Vehicle-borne transmission refers to the indirect spread of infection through a non-living medium, such as contaminated food, water, blood, or surfaces (fomites).
C. Contact transmission involves the direct or indirect transfer of pathogens from one person to another. Direct contact includes touching an infected person, while indirect contact may involve touching contaminated surfaces.
D. Airborne transmission occurs when small respiratory particles (droplet nuclei) carrying pathogens remain suspended in the air and are inhaled by others.
Take home points:
- Vector-borne transmission involves living organisms (e.g., mosquitoes, fleas) that spread infectious agents between hosts.
- Knowing the mode of transmission guides proper infection control.
Correct Answer is ["A","B","D"]
Explanation
Cleaning physically removes dirt and organic material, while disinfection kills many or all pathogenic microorganisms on inanimate objects.
Rationale for correct answer:
A. Proper cleaning requires mechanical removal of all soil from an object or area: Mechanical removal (e.g., scrubbing with friction) is crucial to eliminate organic material that can shield microorganisms and interfere with the effectiveness of disinfectants.
B. Routine environmental cleaning is an example of medical asepsis: Medical asepsis refers to procedures that reduce and prevent the spread of microorganisms, and routine cleaning of surfaces and equipment is a primary example. It reduces the risk of cross-contamination and infection.
D. Cleaning in a direction from the least to the most contaminated area helps reduce infections: This is a key principle in both wound care and general cleaning. By moving from clean to dirty areas, you minimize the risk of introducing contaminants into cleaner regions, reducing the chance of infection.
Rationale for incorrect answers:
C. When cleaning a wound, wipe around the wound edge first and then clean inward toward the center of the wound. The correct technique is to clean from the least contaminated area (usually the center of the wound) to the most contaminated area (the outer edge), to prevent dragging microorganisms from dirty areas into cleaner ones.
E. Disinfecting and sterilizing medical devices and equipment involve the same procedures: Disinfection eliminates many pathogenic microorganisms but not necessarily all spores, while sterilization destroys all forms of microbial life, including spores.
Take home points:
- Effective cleaning is the foundation of infection control- mechanical removal of dirt is essential before disinfection.
- Always clean from least contaminated to most contaminated areas.
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