Activity Evaluation and Post Test

POST TEST

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* 1. An appropriate initial step for a patient newly diagnosed with C. difficile infection (CDI) is:

Administer an oral fluoroquinolone

Institute contact precautions

Transfer to ICU

Test C. difficile strain susceptibility to vancomycin

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* 2. The most effective method to prevent the spread of C. difficile is:

Regular washing of hands with soap and water

Regular use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers

Administer antimicrobial prophylaxis to any at-risk patient

Screen each patient admitted in the hospital for C. difficile colonization

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* 3. Since the emergence and spread of the hypervirulent strain of C. difficile in the early 2000s, all of the following are true except:

A greater number of patients with CDI are undergoing colostomy or colectomy

The number of CDI infections in the community has increased

The mortality rate among the elderly (>65 years) with CDI has remained unchanged

The number of CDI cases in long-term care facilities has increased

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* 4. The use of which of the following antimicrobials poses the greatest risk for C. difficile infection?

Vancomycin

Cephalosporins

Carbapenems

Aminoglycosides

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* 5. Clinical study evidence has shown that the recurrence rate of an initial C. difficile infection following metronidazole or vancomycin treatment is approximately:

20%

50%

75%

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* 6. C. difficile infection recurrence is defined as a re-onset of symptoms plus:

Positive stool test for C. difficile

Positive test for presence of toxin

White blood cell count >10,000

Either 1 or 2

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* 7. Patient risk factors for a recurrent infection include all of the following except:

Older age

Absence of antimicrobial exposure

Presence of comorbidities

Decreased levels of serum IgG anti-toxin A

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* 8. According to the IDSA guidelines, first-line therapy for an initial episode of severe CDI is:

Metronidazole

Vancomycin

Probiotics

Rifaximin

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* 9. Clinical trials demonstrated that, compared to vancomycin, the use of fidaxomicin in the treatment of CDI resulted in significantly:

Higher overall clinical cure rates

Higher clinical cure rates for moderate-to-severe CDI only

Lower clinical cure rates in patients with mild infection

Lower rates of recurrent infection

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* 10. An effective treatment option for a patient with multiple CDI episodes is:

Nitazoxanide

C. difficile vaccine

Fecal microbiota transplantation

Probiotics plus metronidazole