Why Is It Entirely Possible for a Pathogen to Appear

question 22

Multiple Choice

Why is it entirely possible for a pathogen to appear susceptible in susceptibility testing and resistant in a real- life context?

• A) The ability of the pathogen to live as part of a biofilm and benefit from the protection of other bacteria does not exist in susceptibility tests.
• B) Bacterial levels and active drug concentrations vary from one tissue to another in an active infection.
• C) A real- life infection allows for the possibility of genetic crossover with different bacteria, whereas tests in the lab are focused on studying a single strain of bacteria.
• D) A person's liver may break down the drug before it even begins to benefit the patient.
• E) An active infection is more likely to mutate due to the larger population.

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Definitions:

Predictive Validity

The extent to which a test or measurement can accurately forecast or predict future outcomes or behaviors.

Criterion Validity

The extent to which a test's results correlate with other measures or outcomes that are already accepted as reflecting the variable being tested.

Epidemiological

Relating to the study of the distribution and determinants of health and diseases in populations.

Causal Relationship

A connection between two events where one event is understood to be directly responsible for causing the other.