NURS 175 Midterm I Practice Questions and Correct Answers

Chain of infection Infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host Must be intact for infection to occur Infectious agents 1. sufficient numbers of organisms are present 2. the pathogen can produce the disease 3. the pathogen can enter and survive in a host + 4. the host is susceptible Reservoir Where the organism thrives and survives, multiples Portals of exit -ear wax -blood from broken skin -skin flakes -feces -semen -urine -vaginal secretions -milk and secretions from mammary glands -saliva and sputum -nasal secretions -tears Mode of transmission 1. direct contact with infected patient 2. indirect contact via an object 3. droplets produced by coughing or sneezing 4. airborne - smaller droplets suspended in the air -vehicle = E coli in feces/food -vector = mosquitos/rabies Portal of entry -broken skin -insect bite -anus -urethra -penis/vagina -placenta