What is the most common piece of medical equipment that can transmit harmful microorganisms among patients?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Stethoscope. A stethoscope is commonly used between patients, and if not correctly disinfected, it can be a dangerous source of spreading microorganisms. Thermometers typically have barriers to prevent this type of transmission. Injection needles are discarded immediately after use and not reused, making them an unlikely source of transmission. Similarly, disposable gloves are not reused, so they are also not a common source of harmful microorganism transmission.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Low-set ears in a neonate suggest major abnormalities and should prompt further evaluation. The correct alignment of the top of the pinnae of the ear with the outer canthus of the eye is crucial. Nystagmus, an involuntary eye movement, is common in newborns and often resolves on its own. Epstein pearls, small cysts on the hard palate, are insignificant and disappear over time. A positive Babinski reflex is normal in infants up to 1 year of age. Therefore, the presence of low-set ears is the most concerning finding that requires immediate attention.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: When a parent's infant is born with physical defects, understanding the psychological reactions is crucial. The reaction is often similar to the grief experienced when facing the death of a child. Parents need to grieve for the loss of the expected child and adapt to the needs of a child with physical defects. The grief process typically involves stages like shock, frustration, and anger, which can last for years. Denial during the shock phase is not maladaptive but can help parents cope initially. Additionally, parents are sensitive to the behavior of health professionals, whose interactions can significantly influence the parents' reactions to the infant. Therefore, recognizing the similarity of the psychological reaction to grief is an important consideration in understanding how parents cope with their infant's physical defects.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, 'Small for gestational age.' A small for gestational age, or small-for-date, infant is any child whose intrauterine growth rate was slowed and whose birth weight falls below the 10th percentile on intrauterine growth curves. Choices A and B, 'Postterm' and 'Postmature,' refer to infants born after 42 weeks of gestational age regardless of birth weight, and do not specifically address growth rate. Choice C, 'Low birth weight,' refers to infants with a birth weight less than 2500 g (5.5 pounds) regardless of gestational age, which is a different classification compared to being small for gestational age.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The primary consideration of susceptibility to infections in neonates is their diminished nonspecific and specific immunity. Neonates lack the ability to mount a robust immune response, making them vulnerable to infections. Choice A is incorrect because neonates do not have increased humoral immunity; rather, their humoral immunity is diminished. Choice B is incorrect as neonates do not have an overwhelming anti-inflammatory response; instead, their immune responses are generally weakened. Choice D is incorrect because neonates have diminished or absent levels of immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin M, contributing to their susceptibility to infections.