PBS Test Study Guide
Unit 3 = Outbreaks and Emergencies
3.1 = Nosocomial Nightmare
Key Terms
- Endemic - Bacteria - Immunity
- Pandemic - Fungi - Vaccine
- Outbreak - Virus - Herd Immunity
- Sporadic - Chain of Infection - R0 value
- Nosocomial - Reservoir - Etiology
- Infection - Portal of Entry/Exit - Metabolize
- Host - Mode of Transmission - Aseptic technique
- Disease - Infectious dose - Cocci
- Pathogen - Innate immunity - Bacillus
- Prions - Acquired immunity - Spirilla
- Helminthes - T cells / B cells - Gram stain
- Protists - Antigen/Antibodies
Careers
- Epidemiologist - Computer Scientist
- Virologist - Microbiologist
Key Concepts and Skills
3.1.1 - Outbreak!
- How do epidemiologists describe the frequency or number of cases of disease in a population?
What are some examples of these classifications?
- Why do epidemiologists need to be strategic about disease communication with the public?
3.1.2 - Agents of Disease
- How does infectious disease differ from inherited disease?
- Do all infections result in disease? Explain.
- How would you describe the 6 different agents of disease and what are examples of each?
- How do the six disease agents compare in terms of contractility? damage caused? ability to
diagnose? Treatments?
- Are all microbes pathogenic? Explain.
3.1.3 - Modes of Transmission
- Describe the links of the chain of infection
- How would the chain of infection differ for E. coli versus the flu virus or norovirus?
- Distinguish between direct and indirect transmission
- Compare and contrast innate and acquired immunity
- What are examples of our innate immune system - why is it our first line of defense?
- What is our second line of defense? Is it innate or acquired?
- How does our body acquire immunity?
- How can immunity be naturally and artificially acquired?
- What is herd immunity? How do vaccination rates affect it?
3.1.4 - Evidence Evaluation
- What is meant by disease etiology?
- How can you distinguish bacteria, viruses, and fungi under the microscope?
3.1.5 - Isolation
- How can you determine the identity of bacteria?
- Describe aseptic technique practices
- How is bacteria cultured in the lab?
- How is an isolation streak performed? When and why is an isolation streak necessary?
- How can bacterial colonies be distinguished from one another?
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3.1.6 - Gram Staining
- What are the basic morphologies of bacteria cells? What are their possible arrangements?
- How does gram positive bacteria differ from gram negative bacteria? Explain the differences in
their cell walls?
- Be able to describe the gram staining process
3.2 = Emergency Response
Key Terms
- Primary assessment - Anaphylaxis - Hemostat
- Secondary - Enteral - Suture/ligate
assessment - Parenteral - Arterial bleed
- Vitals - IV therapy - Venous bleed
- Mechanism of Injury - Solution - Triage
- Cervical fracture - Solvent - Urgent
- Spinal board - Solute - Emergent
- Bag-valve - Osmosis - Semi-urgent
resuscitator - Homeostasis - Non-urgent
- Pupillary response - Isotonic - Medical surge
- Intubate - Hypertonic - Surge capacity
- Endotracheal tube - Hypotonic - Disaster response
- AED - Platelets plan
- CPR - Blood clotting - Infrastructure
- Skin turgor - Tourniquet
Careers
- Paramedic - Emergency Services Coordinator
- Emergency Medicine Technician - Triage Nurse
- Disaster Response Technician - Emergency Communications Specialists
- Emergency Medicine Physician - IV therapist
- Emergency Medicine Nurse Practitioner
Key Concepts and Skills
3.2.1 - Survey and Assess
- Why do emergency responders work in teams and what does it mean to be cross-trained?
- Why is it so important that you survey and assess the scene before evaluating your patient?
- What are the features of a primary assessment? In what order are they performed and under
what timeframe?
- What are the ABC of emergency care? What is evaluated in each step?
- How are spinal injuries treated differently in an emergency scenario? Why is it important to do
so?
- How is breathing evaluated? How can patients in respiratory distress be assisted?
- How is circulation evaluated? What do emergency responders look for in the pulse and skin?
- What are the features of a secondary assessment? In what order are they performed and under
what timeframe?
- How is pupillary response evaluated? Why is this step important?
3.2.2 - Drug Delivery
- How is skin turgor evaluated and why?
- What is anaphylaxis? What are the signs of mild and severe anaphylaxis?
- What are the different routes of drug delivery? What are different routes available?
- How does an intravenous injection differ from a subcutaneous or intramuscular injection? What
are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
- What factors do you think are used to determine the appropriate dose for an individual?
- How does mild dehydration differ from severe dehydration? Why is severe dehydration life
threatening?
- What happens to cells in a isotonic solution? Why?
- What happens to cells in a hypotonic solution? Why?
- What happens to cells in a hypertonic solution? Why?
- Why does the type of saline solution given to a patient matter?
3.2.3 - Control Bleeding
- How does blood clot? What is the role of platelets and fibrin?
- What are the ABCs of hemostasis (control bleeding)?
- When is bleeding life threatening?
- HOw does an arterial bleed differ from a venous bleed?
- How can bleeding be stopped? Be able to describe several techniques?
- When and how should a tourniquet be used?
- When and how should a hemostat be used?
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3.2.4 - Crisis Communication
- What is triage? Why is it a necessary step in emergency care?
- What are the four triage categories? How do they differ?
- What criteria are used to triage patients?
3.2.5 - Medical Surge
- What resources do hospitals need to treat patients?
- What causes medical surges?
- What can affect a hospital’s surge capacity?
- How might emergency services coordinators manage resources during a disaster?
- In a real-life disaster situations, what might a hospital do with extra patients when it’s over its
capacity?
- What are some ways in which governments as well as individuals can help prevent hospitals
from exceeding their surge capacities?
