NR-283 Pathophysiology Week 7 Quiz
Chamberlain university
Verified Questions, Answers & Rationales
Guaranteed Pass
2026/2027 | Newly Released
Section 1: Infectious Diseases (Sepsis, Common Bacterial/Viral/Fungal
Infections)
Q1: According to the Sepsis-3 guidelines, what is the primary underlying mechanism that defines sepsis?
A. A documented source of systemic infection with a fever greater than 38.3°C
B. Life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection
[CORRECT]
C. The presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria alongside a suspected
infection
D. Septic shock characterized by hypotension refractory to fluid resuscitation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sepsis-3 defines sepsis as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host
response to infection, moving away from the previous SIRS-based criteria.
, Q2: A patient with a known urinary tract infection presents with a temperature of 39°C, heart rate of 120
bpm, and a mean arterial pressure of 65 mmHg. After a 30 mL/kg crystalloid bolus, the blood pressure
remains low, and serum lactate is measured at 4 mmol/L. Which condition is this patient experiencing?
A. Sepsis without organ dysfunction
B. Severe sepsis
C. Septic shock [CORRECT]
D. Hypovolemic shock secondary to fever
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Septic shock is defined as sepsis with persisting hypotension requiring vasopressors to
maintain a MAP of 65 mmHg or higher and a serum lactate level greater than 2 mmol/L despite adequate
volume resuscitation.
Q3: A patient presents with a localized, erythematous, swollen abscess on the arm. A culture reveals
Staphylococcus aureus. Which virulence factor produced by this organism is primarily responsible for its
ability to evade phagocytosis by immune cells?
A. Protein A
B. Coagulase [CORRECT]
C. Hyaluronidase
D. Enterotoxin
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Coagulase is a key virulence factor of Staphylococcus aureus that causes fibrin to clot around
the bacteria, effectively shielding it from phagocytosis by host immune cells.
Q4: What is the primary cell wall component of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that contributes to its
virulence and resistance to standard disinfectants and phagocytic destruction?
A. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
B. Peptidoglycan
C. Mycolic acid [CORRECT]
D. Teichoic acid
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Mycolic acid is a waxy lipid in the cell wall of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that makes the
organism highly resistant to drying, disinfectants, and destruction within macrophages.
.
Chamberlain university
Verified Questions, Answers & Rationales
Guaranteed Pass
2026/2027 | Newly Released
Section 1: Infectious Diseases (Sepsis, Common Bacterial/Viral/Fungal
Infections)
Q1: According to the Sepsis-3 guidelines, what is the primary underlying mechanism that defines sepsis?
A. A documented source of systemic infection with a fever greater than 38.3°C
B. Life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection
[CORRECT]
C. The presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria alongside a suspected
infection
D. Septic shock characterized by hypotension refractory to fluid resuscitation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sepsis-3 defines sepsis as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host
response to infection, moving away from the previous SIRS-based criteria.
, Q2: A patient with a known urinary tract infection presents with a temperature of 39°C, heart rate of 120
bpm, and a mean arterial pressure of 65 mmHg. After a 30 mL/kg crystalloid bolus, the blood pressure
remains low, and serum lactate is measured at 4 mmol/L. Which condition is this patient experiencing?
A. Sepsis without organ dysfunction
B. Severe sepsis
C. Septic shock [CORRECT]
D. Hypovolemic shock secondary to fever
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Septic shock is defined as sepsis with persisting hypotension requiring vasopressors to
maintain a MAP of 65 mmHg or higher and a serum lactate level greater than 2 mmol/L despite adequate
volume resuscitation.
Q3: A patient presents with a localized, erythematous, swollen abscess on the arm. A culture reveals
Staphylococcus aureus. Which virulence factor produced by this organism is primarily responsible for its
ability to evade phagocytosis by immune cells?
A. Protein A
B. Coagulase [CORRECT]
C. Hyaluronidase
D. Enterotoxin
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Coagulase is a key virulence factor of Staphylococcus aureus that causes fibrin to clot around
the bacteria, effectively shielding it from phagocytosis by host immune cells.
Q4: What is the primary cell wall component of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that contributes to its
virulence and resistance to standard disinfectants and phagocytic destruction?
A. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
B. Peptidoglycan
C. Mycolic acid [CORRECT]
D. Teichoic acid
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Mycolic acid is a waxy lipid in the cell wall of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that makes the
organism highly resistant to drying, disinfectants, and destruction within macrophages.
.
