ESTUDYR
MASTERING MICROBIOLOGY | CHAPTER 14 | PRINCIPLES OF DISEASE AND EPIDEMIOLOGY |
2025 MULTICHOICE ANSWERED EXAM QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
Florence Nightingale compared disease rates in soldiers vs civilians. This is an example of:
A. Experimental epidemiology
B. Analytical epidemiology
C. Descriptive epidemiology
D. Clinical epidemiology
Answer: B. Analytical epidemiology
Rationale: She compared groups to identify associations (analytical approach).
Two patients developed endophthalmitis within 24 hours after corneal transplants; the same
organism was isolated from a packing supply. This is an example of:
A. Community-acquired infection
B. Vector-borne infection
C. Foodborne outbreak
D. A nosocomial (healthcare-associated) infection
Answer: D. A nosocomial infection
Rationale: Infection acquired in connection with a medical procedure and traced to hospital
supplies.
An infection transmitted by a hypodermic (contaminated) needle is transmitted by:
A. Direct contact
B. Droplet spread
C. Airborne route
D. Indirect contact
Answer: D. Indirect contact
Rationale: The needle is a fomite mediating indirect transfer of pathogens.
Which event does NOT occur in diseases transmitted by biological vectors?
A. Vector contacts feces with bacteria and transfers them to food (mechanical)
B. Vector vomits during feeding and transmits pathogen
C. Vector defecates while taking a blood meal transmitting pathogen
D. Vector multiplies in the human host
Answer: D. Vector multiplies in the human host
Rationale: Vectors (e.g., ticks, mosquitoes) may harbor pathogens and transmit them; they do
not multiply inside the human — multiplication occurs in the vector or pathogen invades
human tissues, but vector replication is not in human host.
, ESTUDYR
Ehrlichiosis is transmitted by ticks. This is an example of:
A. Vehicle transmission
B. Droplet transmission
C. Vector transmission
D. Fomite transmission
Answer: C. Vector transmission
Rationale: Ticks are arthropod vectors that transmit tick-borne pathogens.
Which emergence factor is primarily related to human behavior?
A. Microbial mutation
B. Natural floods
C. Earthquakes
D. Lack of vaccination
Answer: D. Lack of vaccination
Rationale: Vaccination choices are human/systemic behaviors affecting disease emergence.
Which of the following does NOT share the commonality with the others? (Rabies,
Hantavirus, Brucella, Yersinia pestis)
A. Rabies
B. Hantavirus
C. Brucella
D. Yersinia pestis
E. All of the listed diseases share a commonality
Answer: E. All of the listed diseases share a commonality
Rationale: All are zoonoses (originating from animals).
Which type of nosocomial infection is most common overall?
A. Urinary tract infections
B. Bloodstream infections
C. Surgical site infections
D. Respiratory tract infections
Answer: C. Surgical site infections
Rationale: Surgical procedures are a frequent source of healthcare-associated infections.
Ebola, avian influenza, SARS, West Nile encephalitis, and mad cow disease share what in
common?
A. They are all eradicated diseases
B. They are vaccine-preventable childhood diseases
C. They are emerging infectious diseases (EIDs)
D. They are exclusively foodborne illnesses
MASTERING MICROBIOLOGY | CHAPTER 14 | PRINCIPLES OF DISEASE AND EPIDEMIOLOGY |
2025 MULTICHOICE ANSWERED EXAM QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
Florence Nightingale compared disease rates in soldiers vs civilians. This is an example of:
A. Experimental epidemiology
B. Analytical epidemiology
C. Descriptive epidemiology
D. Clinical epidemiology
Answer: B. Analytical epidemiology
Rationale: She compared groups to identify associations (analytical approach).
Two patients developed endophthalmitis within 24 hours after corneal transplants; the same
organism was isolated from a packing supply. This is an example of:
A. Community-acquired infection
B. Vector-borne infection
C. Foodborne outbreak
D. A nosocomial (healthcare-associated) infection
Answer: D. A nosocomial infection
Rationale: Infection acquired in connection with a medical procedure and traced to hospital
supplies.
An infection transmitted by a hypodermic (contaminated) needle is transmitted by:
A. Direct contact
B. Droplet spread
C. Airborne route
D. Indirect contact
Answer: D. Indirect contact
Rationale: The needle is a fomite mediating indirect transfer of pathogens.
Which event does NOT occur in diseases transmitted by biological vectors?
A. Vector contacts feces with bacteria and transfers them to food (mechanical)
B. Vector vomits during feeding and transmits pathogen
C. Vector defecates while taking a blood meal transmitting pathogen
D. Vector multiplies in the human host
Answer: D. Vector multiplies in the human host
Rationale: Vectors (e.g., ticks, mosquitoes) may harbor pathogens and transmit them; they do
not multiply inside the human — multiplication occurs in the vector or pathogen invades
human tissues, but vector replication is not in human host.
, ESTUDYR
Ehrlichiosis is transmitted by ticks. This is an example of:
A. Vehicle transmission
B. Droplet transmission
C. Vector transmission
D. Fomite transmission
Answer: C. Vector transmission
Rationale: Ticks are arthropod vectors that transmit tick-borne pathogens.
Which emergence factor is primarily related to human behavior?
A. Microbial mutation
B. Natural floods
C. Earthquakes
D. Lack of vaccination
Answer: D. Lack of vaccination
Rationale: Vaccination choices are human/systemic behaviors affecting disease emergence.
Which of the following does NOT share the commonality with the others? (Rabies,
Hantavirus, Brucella, Yersinia pestis)
A. Rabies
B. Hantavirus
C. Brucella
D. Yersinia pestis
E. All of the listed diseases share a commonality
Answer: E. All of the listed diseases share a commonality
Rationale: All are zoonoses (originating from animals).
Which type of nosocomial infection is most common overall?
A. Urinary tract infections
B. Bloodstream infections
C. Surgical site infections
D. Respiratory tract infections
Answer: C. Surgical site infections
Rationale: Surgical procedures are a frequent source of healthcare-associated infections.
Ebola, avian influenza, SARS, West Nile encephalitis, and mad cow disease share what in
common?
A. They are all eradicated diseases
B. They are vaccine-preventable childhood diseases
C. They are emerging infectious diseases (EIDs)
D. They are exclusively foodborne illnesses
