NUR 1460 CHAPTER 26 - ASEPSIS AND INFECTION CONTROL QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY
LATEST UPDATE 2026
MULTIPLE CHOICE
The second line of defense that leads to local capillary dilation and leukocyte infiltration is known as:
a. normal flora.
b. inflammatory response.
c. immune response.
d. humoral immunity. - Answers ANS: B
The second line of defense is the inflammatory response. Inflammation is a local response to cellular
injury or infection that includes capillary dilation and leukocyte infiltration. The immune response is
the body's attempt to protect itself from foreign and harmful substances. Humoral immunity is an
adaptive immunity and normal flora is a group of non-disease-causing microorganisms (e.g., bacteria,
fungi, protozoa) that live in or on the body.
The antigen-antibody reaction is an example of what type of immunity?
a. Humoral
b. Cellular
c. Innate
d. Passive - Answers ANS: A
Humoral immunity is a defense system that involves antibodies and white blood cells that are
produced to fight antigens. Cellular immunity involves defense by white blood cells against any
microorganisms that the body does not recognize as its own. The innate (nonspecific) immune system
provides immediate defense against foreign antigens. Passive immunity occurs when a person
receives an antibody produced in another body.
The nurse administers an immunization consisting of antibodies against hepatitis B. The nurse knows
this is a form of what type of immunity?
a. Naturally acquired passive
b. Naturally acquired active
c. Artificially acquired passive
d. Innate - Answers ANS: C
The body did not have to work to develop the immunity; therefore, it is passive, and the patient was
artificially exposed. It is not innate because it was provided. It was not naturally acquired because it
was given in the vaccine.
A disease-causing organism is known as:
a. a pathogen.
b. normal flora.
c. a germ.
d. a microorganism. - Answers ANS: A
Infectious agents include any disease-causing agent and are called pathogens. They include bacteria,
fungi, viruses, and parasites. Normal flora is a group of non-disease-causing microorganisms that live
in or on the body. A microorganism is bacteria, fungi, or protozoa.
The nurse is explaining to the patient why she is receiving antibiotics. Her answer would be correct if
she stated antibiotics are effective against which microorganism?
a. Viruses
b. Fungi
c. Parasites
d. Bacteria - Answers ANS: D
Antibiotics are effective against bacteria, and exact antibiotic sensitivity is tested so that appropriate
antibiotics are prescribed. Infections that are caused by fungi are treated with antifungal medications.
Certain antiviral medications are used to manage the symptoms of a viral infection. These
medications, if given during the early phases of illness, can decrease the amount of time that the
patient has viral symptoms. Treatment for parasitic infections varies depending on type of parasite.
The nurse anticipates correctly that what type of medication would be ordered to treat athlete's foot?
a. Antiviral
b. Antibiotic
c. Antihelminth
, d. Antifungal - Answers ANS: D
The nurse would expect to treat athlete's foot with an antifungal because it is a fungal infection. An
antibiotic treats bacterial infections, antivirals treat viral infections, and antihelminth treats parasitic
worms.
The nurse's stethoscope most correctly represents which possible link in the chain of infection?
a. Source
b. Portal of exit
c. Portal of entry
d. Mode of transmission - Answers ANS: D
The stethoscope would be a means for the pathogen to travel from source to host. The source is the
reservoir or host. The portal of exit is where the pathogen escapes from the reservoir of infection, and
the portal of entry is where the microorganism enters the susceptible host.
The nurse is teaching a group of patient about diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever that
are transmitted by ticks. The nurse's explanation would be correct if she states that the tick functions
as:
a. vectors.
b. bacteria.
c. viruses.
d. fungi. - Answers ANS: A
Vectors carry pathogens from one host to another. Bacteria are single-cell organisms. Viruses are the
smallest organisms. Fungi are single-cell organisms that can cause infection.
The nurse correctly identifies that the most effective method to prevent hospital-acquired infections
is:
a. use of sterile technique.
b. isolation protocols.
c. antibiotic use.
d. handwashing. - Answers ANS: D
Handwashing is the most effective method to prevent hospital acquired infections. Sterile technique
is only used for certain procedures and isolation protocols are used for patients already infected or for
protective isolation in immune-compromised patients and are not used for every patient. Antibiotics
are used to treat infections.
The nurse correctly identifies which patient as having the greatest risk for infection?
a. An 80-year-old male with an enlarged prostate
b. A 24-year-old female long-distance runner
c. A 50-year-old obese male
d. A 40-year-old sexually active female - Answers ANS: A
The 80-year-old has more risk factors because he is elderly and has increased risk of urinary tract
infection related to prostate enlargement, so he has two risk factors. A 24-year-old runner is likely
healthy with no additional risk factors. The 50-year-old obese male has one additional risk factor. The
40-year-old sexually active female may not have additional risk factors because she is using protection
and does not have multiple partners.
The nurse understands that which set of vitals most likely indicates infection?
a. 98.6, 75, 18, 120/80
b. 99, 80, 19, 110/70
c. 100.5, 96, 22, 150/100
d. 98.9, 65, 18, 98/62 - Answers ANS: C
With infection, temperature will rise and blood pressure will increase along with pulse and respiratory
rate.
The nurse notes that a patient's albumin is low and is concerned about the patient's ability to fight
infection related to antibodies being made from what?
a. Protein
b. Carbohydrates
c. Fats
d. Vitamins - Answers ANS: A
Adequate nutrition is important in the body's defense against infection. Antibodies are made of
protein. Carbohydrates store energy, fats store energy and provide energy, and vitamins are a
nutrient.
LATEST UPDATE 2026
MULTIPLE CHOICE
The second line of defense that leads to local capillary dilation and leukocyte infiltration is known as:
a. normal flora.
b. inflammatory response.
c. immune response.
d. humoral immunity. - Answers ANS: B
The second line of defense is the inflammatory response. Inflammation is a local response to cellular
injury or infection that includes capillary dilation and leukocyte infiltration. The immune response is
the body's attempt to protect itself from foreign and harmful substances. Humoral immunity is an
adaptive immunity and normal flora is a group of non-disease-causing microorganisms (e.g., bacteria,
fungi, protozoa) that live in or on the body.
The antigen-antibody reaction is an example of what type of immunity?
a. Humoral
b. Cellular
c. Innate
d. Passive - Answers ANS: A
Humoral immunity is a defense system that involves antibodies and white blood cells that are
produced to fight antigens. Cellular immunity involves defense by white blood cells against any
microorganisms that the body does not recognize as its own. The innate (nonspecific) immune system
provides immediate defense against foreign antigens. Passive immunity occurs when a person
receives an antibody produced in another body.
The nurse administers an immunization consisting of antibodies against hepatitis B. The nurse knows
this is a form of what type of immunity?
a. Naturally acquired passive
b. Naturally acquired active
c. Artificially acquired passive
d. Innate - Answers ANS: C
The body did not have to work to develop the immunity; therefore, it is passive, and the patient was
artificially exposed. It is not innate because it was provided. It was not naturally acquired because it
was given in the vaccine.
A disease-causing organism is known as:
a. a pathogen.
b. normal flora.
c. a germ.
d. a microorganism. - Answers ANS: A
Infectious agents include any disease-causing agent and are called pathogens. They include bacteria,
fungi, viruses, and parasites. Normal flora is a group of non-disease-causing microorganisms that live
in or on the body. A microorganism is bacteria, fungi, or protozoa.
The nurse is explaining to the patient why she is receiving antibiotics. Her answer would be correct if
she stated antibiotics are effective against which microorganism?
a. Viruses
b. Fungi
c. Parasites
d. Bacteria - Answers ANS: D
Antibiotics are effective against bacteria, and exact antibiotic sensitivity is tested so that appropriate
antibiotics are prescribed. Infections that are caused by fungi are treated with antifungal medications.
Certain antiviral medications are used to manage the symptoms of a viral infection. These
medications, if given during the early phases of illness, can decrease the amount of time that the
patient has viral symptoms. Treatment for parasitic infections varies depending on type of parasite.
The nurse anticipates correctly that what type of medication would be ordered to treat athlete's foot?
a. Antiviral
b. Antibiotic
c. Antihelminth
, d. Antifungal - Answers ANS: D
The nurse would expect to treat athlete's foot with an antifungal because it is a fungal infection. An
antibiotic treats bacterial infections, antivirals treat viral infections, and antihelminth treats parasitic
worms.
The nurse's stethoscope most correctly represents which possible link in the chain of infection?
a. Source
b. Portal of exit
c. Portal of entry
d. Mode of transmission - Answers ANS: D
The stethoscope would be a means for the pathogen to travel from source to host. The source is the
reservoir or host. The portal of exit is where the pathogen escapes from the reservoir of infection, and
the portal of entry is where the microorganism enters the susceptible host.
The nurse is teaching a group of patient about diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever that
are transmitted by ticks. The nurse's explanation would be correct if she states that the tick functions
as:
a. vectors.
b. bacteria.
c. viruses.
d. fungi. - Answers ANS: A
Vectors carry pathogens from one host to another. Bacteria are single-cell organisms. Viruses are the
smallest organisms. Fungi are single-cell organisms that can cause infection.
The nurse correctly identifies that the most effective method to prevent hospital-acquired infections
is:
a. use of sterile technique.
b. isolation protocols.
c. antibiotic use.
d. handwashing. - Answers ANS: D
Handwashing is the most effective method to prevent hospital acquired infections. Sterile technique
is only used for certain procedures and isolation protocols are used for patients already infected or for
protective isolation in immune-compromised patients and are not used for every patient. Antibiotics
are used to treat infections.
The nurse correctly identifies which patient as having the greatest risk for infection?
a. An 80-year-old male with an enlarged prostate
b. A 24-year-old female long-distance runner
c. A 50-year-old obese male
d. A 40-year-old sexually active female - Answers ANS: A
The 80-year-old has more risk factors because he is elderly and has increased risk of urinary tract
infection related to prostate enlargement, so he has two risk factors. A 24-year-old runner is likely
healthy with no additional risk factors. The 50-year-old obese male has one additional risk factor. The
40-year-old sexually active female may not have additional risk factors because she is using protection
and does not have multiple partners.
The nurse understands that which set of vitals most likely indicates infection?
a. 98.6, 75, 18, 120/80
b. 99, 80, 19, 110/70
c. 100.5, 96, 22, 150/100
d. 98.9, 65, 18, 98/62 - Answers ANS: C
With infection, temperature will rise and blood pressure will increase along with pulse and respiratory
rate.
The nurse notes that a patient's albumin is low and is concerned about the patient's ability to fight
infection related to antibodies being made from what?
a. Protein
b. Carbohydrates
c. Fats
d. Vitamins - Answers ANS: A
Adequate nutrition is important in the body's defense against infection. Antibodies are made of
protein. Carbohydrates store energy, fats store energy and provide energy, and vitamins are a
nutrient.
