Chapter 14 Risk of Infectious
and Communicable Diseases
Exam Questions with
Answers
User [Date] [Course title]
, 1. The nurse works with a female client who recently developed an infection of Staphylococcus aureus
while in the hospital. In this case, S. aureus is which component in the chain of infection?
A) Host
B) Environmental reservoir
C) Agent
D) Portal - Correct Answer: Ans: C
Feedback: The agent, or the microbe that causes the disease, is the "what" of the epidemiologic triangle.
The host, or the organism that is harboring the infectious agent, is the "who" of the triangle. The
environment, which includes those external factors that cause or allow disease transmission, is the
"where" of the triangle. Other necessary elements include a portal of exit from the host, environmental
reservoirs, transmission, and a portal of entry to a new host.
2. A student nurse asks if an infectious disease is the same thing as a communicable disease. The nurse
explains that an infectious disease is not necessarily a communicable disease. Which must a
communicable disease have that an infectious disease does not have to have? (Select all that apply.)
A) Pathogenic microorganism
B) Portal of exit from the infected person
C) Means of transmission
D) Portal of entry to a susceptible host
E) Organism that harbors the infectious agent - Correct Answer: Ans: B, C, D
Feedback: An infectious disease in a human host is one caused by the growth of pathogenic
microorganisms in the body. For a disease to be communicable, or contagious, there must be a portal of
exit from the infected person (or animal), a means of transmission, and a portal of entry to a susceptible
host. Thus, an infectious disease need not be contagious, or communicable.
3. Infectious agents are biological agents capable of producing an infection or infectious disease. Which
are considered biological agents? (Select all that apply.)
A) Fungi
B) Fomites
C) Bacteria
and Communicable Diseases
Exam Questions with
Answers
User [Date] [Course title]
, 1. The nurse works with a female client who recently developed an infection of Staphylococcus aureus
while in the hospital. In this case, S. aureus is which component in the chain of infection?
A) Host
B) Environmental reservoir
C) Agent
D) Portal - Correct Answer: Ans: C
Feedback: The agent, or the microbe that causes the disease, is the "what" of the epidemiologic triangle.
The host, or the organism that is harboring the infectious agent, is the "who" of the triangle. The
environment, which includes those external factors that cause or allow disease transmission, is the
"where" of the triangle. Other necessary elements include a portal of exit from the host, environmental
reservoirs, transmission, and a portal of entry to a new host.
2. A student nurse asks if an infectious disease is the same thing as a communicable disease. The nurse
explains that an infectious disease is not necessarily a communicable disease. Which must a
communicable disease have that an infectious disease does not have to have? (Select all that apply.)
A) Pathogenic microorganism
B) Portal of exit from the infected person
C) Means of transmission
D) Portal of entry to a susceptible host
E) Organism that harbors the infectious agent - Correct Answer: Ans: B, C, D
Feedback: An infectious disease in a human host is one caused by the growth of pathogenic
microorganisms in the body. For a disease to be communicable, or contagious, there must be a portal of
exit from the infected person (or animal), a means of transmission, and a portal of entry to a susceptible
host. Thus, an infectious disease need not be contagious, or communicable.
3. Infectious agents are biological agents capable of producing an infection or infectious disease. Which
are considered biological agents? (Select all that apply.)
A) Fungi
B) Fomites
C) Bacteria
