An IP is conducting an educational session to help the nursing staff understand infectious disease transmission. She explains that the initial element in virulence is the ability of an organism to survive in the external environment during transit between hosts. What is the second element of virulence?

12. The management of an infected surgical site includes the following foundational principles:

1) Open and drain the incision
2) Debride fibrous debris and necrotic soft tissUE~
3) Replace hardware
4) Implement antimicrobial management as needed
5) Manage the open wound

During annual TST, an employee’s test result was read as 10 mm induration. The employee’s last TST was negatiVE!. This initial result indicates a:

A microbe that can grow in the absence of oxygen but is also able to utilize oxygen for growth is a/an:

Western blot testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is used to detect: