A patient walks into a community clinic complaining of severe intestinal cramps and diarrhea. Which action can be taken to protect the staff at the clinic?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed a set of guidelines, called universal precautions, to prevent transmission of diseases found in blood and other body fluids. These guidelines were developed because infected people may be asymptomatic and have no knowledge of their conditions; therefore, health care workers must assume that all patients are infectious and protect themselves, other health care workers, and other patients. Refusing to treat the patient, sending the patient to an emergency department, or treating the patient with antibiotics and fluids would not be appropriate measures to protect the staff.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Screening, because it may result in early diagnosis and treatment, is secondary prevention. Primary prevention refers to interventions that occur before the disease develops. Tertiary prevention focuses on limitation of disability and the rehabilitation of those with irreversible disease. Health prevention is not considered to be a level of prevention.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The epidemiological triangle includes the agent (pathogen), host (people who are susceptible and become ill), and environment (the geographic area where people became ill). These three areas allow for an explanation of disease. Explanation of the health care system in the community is not part of this model.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Epidemiology aims to understand the distribution and determinants of diseases in populations, with a primary goal of identifying causes (A) to inform prevention and control (D). Treatment (B) and drug development (C) are clinical or pharmaceutical goals, not epidemiology’s focus.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Snow’s cholera study (A) mapped cases to describe distribution, identifying the Broad Street pump. Analytical (B) tests hypotheses, experimental (C) involves intervention, and clinical (D) focuses on patients.