A new influenza vaccine is needed each year because the virus changes its surface antigens.
Correct Answer
True
True. Mutations change the antigens on the influenza virus, so immunity from a prior year may no longer recognize it. The vaccine is updated to match strains expected to circulate.
Category: Viral and Fungal Infections
Question 2
Residents of long-term care facilities have a higher infection risk because aging weakens the immune response and residents live in close contact.
Correct Answer
True
True. Immune effectiveness declines with age, and shared living space increases exposure. Infections such as influenza and pneumococcal disease are common in these settings.
Category: Infectious Process
Question 3
Loss of bone marrow function has little effect on the body's ability to fight infection.
Correct Answer
False
False. Bone marrow produces white blood cells, along with red blood cells and platelets, so without it the body cannot fight infection effectively or stop bleeding. Patients whose marrow is suppressed need careful protection from infection.
Category: Host Defenses
Question 4
Swollen lymph nodes can signal infection because immune cells in the nodes are fighting trapped pathogens.
Correct Answer
True
True. Lymph nodes filter lymph, and macrophages and lymphocytes in them destroy pathogens and launch adaptive responses. This activity enlarges the nodes during infection.
Category: Host Defenses
Question 5
The constant shedding of dry outer skin cells helps remove microbes from the body surface.
Correct Answer
True
True. Intact, dry skin that continually sheds its surface cells is a barrier defense. Sweat and skin secretions also wash away microbes and lower the skin's pH.
Category: Host Defenses
Question 6
RNA viruses mutate less often than DNA viruses, so they rarely produce new strains.
Correct Answer
False
False. RNA viruses mutate more often than DNA viruses, which is why new strains of viruses such as influenza appear regularly. Frequent mutation also makes lasting immunity and vaccine design harder.
Category: Viral and Fungal Infections
Question 7
When oral candidiasis persists despite antifungal treatment, the lesions may be swabbed to check for a resistant organism.
Correct Answer
True
True. Oral candidiasis is usually diagnosed by its appearance, but lesions that persist despite treatment are swabbed so the organism can be identified and tested, because a lack of response may mean resistance. A different antifungal may then be needed.
Category: Viral and Fungal Infections
Question 8
An undetectable HIV viral load means treatment is working, but the virus is still present in the body.
Correct Answer
True
True. Undetectable means the virus is below the level the test can measure, not that it is gone. The patient must continue antiretroviral therapy to keep it suppressed.
Category: HIV and Hepatitis
Question 9
The chronic stage of HIV infection is usually brief and causes severe symptoms from the start.
Correct Answer
False
False. The chronic, or latent, stage can last years or decades with few symptoms while the virus slowly destroys CD4 cells. Without treatment it progresses to AIDS.
Category: HIV and Hepatitis
Question 10
Hepatitis A is usually treated with a long course of antiviral drugs.
Correct Answer
False
False. Hepatitis A is usually mild and self-limiting, and care is supportive, with rest and fluids. Antiviral drugs are used for hepatitis B and C.
Category: HIV and Hepatitis
Question 11
Chronic hepatitis B infection has no link to liver cancer.
Correct Answer
False
False. Hepatitis B can become chronic and progress to cirrhosis or liver failure, and chronic infection is associated with liver cancer. Patients need ongoing follow-up and should keep to their medication and follow-up schedule.
Category: HIV and Hepatitis
Question 12
Most people infected with hepatitis C go on to develop a chronic infection.
Correct Answer
True
True. Hepatitis C often causes few early symptoms and usually becomes chronic, which can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure. Antiviral treatment aims to clear the virus completely.
Category: HIV and Hepatitis
Question 13
Patients may safely share leftover antibiotics with family members who have similar symptoms.
Correct Answer
False
False. Sharing antibiotics leads to wrong drugs and wrong doses, which can harm the person and promote resistance. Patients are taught never to share their medicines.
Category: Antibiotic Resistance
Question 14
Stewardship guidance advises against routinely giving antibiotics for bacteria in the urine that cause no symptoms.
Correct Answer
True
True. For most patients, treating bacteria in the urine that cause no symptoms adds drug risks and drives resistance without benefit. Avoiding this is a core stewardship practice, with specific exceptions decided by the provider.
Category: Antibiotic Resistance
Question 15
Gloves are unnecessary when handling the body fluids of a patient with VRE if the nurse washes hands afterward.
Correct Answer
False
False. Gloves are worn whenever contact with potentially contaminated body fluids is expected, and hand hygiene is still done after removing them. VRE spreads easily on hands and surfaces.
Category: Antibiotic Resistance
Question 16
Surfaces in the room of a patient with C. difficile infection are cleaned with bleach products.
Correct Answer
True
True. Bleach-based cleaners kill the spores that C. difficile forms on surfaces and equipment. Alcohol-based products do not kill these spores.
Category: Secondary Infections
Question 17
Contact precautions for suspected C. difficile infection begin only after a positive stool test result.
Correct Answer
False
False. The nurse assumes infection and starts contact precautions as soon as it is suspected. Precautions can be stopped if the stool sample comes back negative.
Category: Secondary Infections
Question 18
Mechanical ventilation lowers the risk of pneumonia by protecting the airway.
Correct Answer
False
False. A breathing tube bypasses the upper airway defenses and greatly increases the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Removing the tube as early as safely possible lowers that risk.
Category: Secondary Infections
Question 19
A vaginal yeast infection that follows antibiotic therapy is an example of a primary infection.
Correct Answer
False
False. It is a secondary infection, one that develops after treatment of a first infection. Antibiotics disturb normal flora and allow yeast to overgrow.
Category: Secondary Infections
Question 20
A previous C. difficile infection raises the risk of getting it again.
Correct Answer
True
True. Prior infection is a risk factor, along with recent antibiotic use, immunosuppression, older age and recent hospitalization or long-term care. A patient with a history of C. difficile who develops new diarrhea needs prompt evaluation.
Category: Secondary Infections