An Epidemiologic Study Is Conducted After a Sudden Increase in the Rate

question 15

Multiple Choice

An epidemiologic study is conducted after a sudden increase in the rate of severe postoperative infections in a rural hospital.  It is determined that all the patients who developed the infection were operated on with surgical instruments sterilized by a specific autoclave machine.  The machine was found to be inadequately sterilizing the equipment due to a malfunction limiting the temperature to 100 C (212 F) during the 15 minute cycle.  These patients most likely developed infection from which of the following bacteria?

• A)Brucella melitensis
• B)Clostridium perfringens
• C)Escherichia coli
• D)Listeria monocytogenes
• E)Streptococcus pyogenes

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Definitions:

Artery

A blood vessel carrying blood away from the heart, usually filled with oxygenated blood.

Vein

A blood vessel that carries blood towards the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart.

Capillary

The smallest of the body's blood vessels, connecting arterioles and venules, and playing a key role in the exchange of water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and many other nutrients and waste substances between blood and surrounding tissues.

Inappropriately Loud Voice

Speaking at a volume that is considered excessively high for the given social or contextual setting, often leading to discomfort or disturbance.