A local farmer experiences peculiar symptoms after using a pesticide. From which source could you most easily and quickly get toxicological data on a pesticide?
Correct Answer E:
Poison Control Centers (PCC) play a major role in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with poisonings. These centers are staffed 24 hours a day with trained poison information specialists, including pharmacists, nurses and physicians. They have access to numerous resources including ‘Poisondex’, a computerized system containing information and treatment protocols for more than 800,000 products.
PCCs aid in the prevention, diagnosis and management of specific poisonings through rapid and efficient assessment of the poison exposure; identification of toxic ingredients and plants; increasing public awareness of the importance of avoiding potentially hazardous home remedies; providing location of specific antidotes and other special treatments; reducing healthcare costs through home management of minor exposures and prevention of minor hospital visits; public education campaigns; and provision of phone numbers for other important toxicology resources.
You are asked to see a 75-year-old woman with dementia and severe pneumonia. You discuss the issues surrounding her illness with her son who is her only living next-of-kin. He is firm that she would not want intubation for respiratory failure in this situation.
This is an example of which one of the following?
Correct Answer B:
If a physician finds a patient incapable of making their own decisions about any form of medical treatment, he/she will ask another person to make decisions for the patient. This other person is called a "substitute decision-maker" (SDM). The SDM has to follow particular rules when making treatment decisions for the patient.
The physician determines who is the appropriate SDM. The physician then asks the SDM to make treatment decisions for the patient. The person named SDM could be one of the patients: guardian, attorney, a family member, or, if there is no one else willing to act, the Public Guardian and Trustee (PGT). If there is more than one person named SDM (for example, there are 2 brothers) both must agree on the treatment decisions.
Before any medical treatment begins (except in specific cases of emergency) either the person or the SDM must give "informed consent" to the treatment. An SDM is entitled to all of the information that the person would be entitled to before making a decision about treatment.
The public health physician's responsibilities in the community include all of the following, except:
The public health physician's responsibilities in the community include prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STD), preventive dental programs for children, infectious disease surveillance and health promotion activities. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OHSA) is responsible for control of workplace air quality.
You have just made the diagnosis of Haemophilus influenzae type B epiglottitis in a 3-year-old boy. You know that your patient has a 1-year-old unimmunized brother.
Which preventive measure among family contacts is appropriate?
Correct Answer A:
Epiglottitis is a rapidly progressive bacterial infection of the epiglottis and surrounding tissues that may lead to sudden respiratory obstruction and death. Symptoms include severe sore throat, dysphagia, high fever, drooling, and inspiratory stridor. Diagnosis requires direct visualization of the supraglottic structures, which is not to be performed until full respiratory support is available.
Treatment includes airway protection and antibiotics. If a child is diagnosed with epiglottitis, the child's family or other close contacts are usually treated with a medication called Rifampin, to prevent the disease in those people who might have been exposed.
During a clinical trial, the difference in the success rates of two drugs was not statistically significant.
This means that:
In statistics, a result is called statistically significant if it is unlikely to have occurred by chance. "A statistically significant difference" simply means there is statistical evidence that there is a difference.
Click to expand