Chapter 14- Mechanisms of Infectious Disease Test Bank/ NURS 3365

1. A hospital client was swabbed on admission for antibiotic-resistant organisms and has just been informed that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is present in his groin. The client has a normal core temperature and white blood cell count. This client is experiencing: A) Infection B) Proliferation C) Colonization D) Inflammation Ans: C Feedback: Colonization describes the act of establishing a presence, a step required in the multifaceted process of infection; infection describes the presence and multiplication within a host of another living organism. However, this client displays no signs of infection, inflammation, or proliferation of the microorganism. 2. Which most accurately describes the characteristics of saprophytes? They: A) Derive energy from decaying organic matter B) Are beneficial components of human microflora C) Have RNA or DNA, but never both D) Are capable of spore production Ans: A Feedback: Saprophytes are free-living organisms obtaining their growth from dead or decaying organic material in the environment. They are not necessarily spore producing, and they are not typical components of human microflora. Because most are bacterial or fungal, they contain both RNA and DNA. 3. Which of the following are accurate characteristics of prions? Select all that apply. A) Disease usually progresses slowly. B) The primary manifestation includes ataxia and dementia. C) Prions are protease sensitive. D) Prions tend to aggregate into amyloid-like plaques in the brain. E) Prions lack reproductive functions so are not very harmful to humans. Ans: A, B, D Feedback: The various prion-associated diseases produce very similar pathologic processes and symptoms in the hosts and are collectively called transmissible neurodegenerative diseases. All are characterized by a slowly progressive, noninflammatory neuronal degeneration, leading to loss of coordination (ataxia), dementia, and death over a period ranging from months to years. Prion proteins in disease (called PrPSC) are resistant to the action of proteases (enzymes that degrade excess or deformed proteins). It is believed that PrPSC binds to the normal PrPC on the cell surface, causing it to be processed into PrPSC, which is released from the cell and then aggregates into amyloid-like plaques in the brain.