Community Health Nursing Practice Exam

Which statement regarding modes of transmission is true?

1. Direct transmission requires contact with a contaminated inanimate material.

2. Indirect transmission is also known as vehicle-borne illness.

3. Food-related illnesses are considered to be spread by direct transmission.

4. Vector transmission requires contact with a nonhuman carrier.

The correct answer is: Vector transmission requires contact with a nonhuman carrier.

The statement regarding modes of transmission that is true identifies that vector transmission requires contact with a nonhuman carrier. In epidemiology, vector transmission refers to the process where an organism, often an insect or another arthropod, carries and transmits a pathogen to humans or other animals. Examples of vectors include mosquitoes that transmit malaria or ticks that transmit Lyme disease. The vectors do not cause the disease themselves but are crucial in facilitating the transfer of pathogens from one host to another. In contrast, direct transmission involves immediate transfer of an infectious agent from one person to another through physical contact, without involving any intermediary object or organism. Indirect transmission can occur through vehicle-borne means, which might include contaminated surfaces or materials but does not limit itself solely to nonhuman carriers. Likewise, food-related illnesses can occur through indirect transmission, often through contaminated food rather than direct contact between sick and healthy individuals. Understanding these distinctions is essential for public health interventions and in developing prevention strategies.