Certified in Public Health (CPH) Practice Exam

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Prepare for the Certified in Public Health Exam. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Gear up for your success!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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The incidence of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus that are resistant to antibiotics is?

  1. Increasing

  2. Decreasing

  3. Staying the same

  4. Difficult to measure

The correct answer is: Increasing

The correct response indicates that the incidence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus aureus, is increasing. This trend is driven by several factors, including the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in both healthcare settings and agricultural practices. As bacteria are exposed to antibiotics, those that possess genetic mutations conferring resistance survive and multiply, leading to a greater prevalence of resistant strains over time. The emergence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) serves as a significant example of this growing concern, highlighting the challenges in treating infections that were once easily manageable. Public health efforts are continuously focused on monitoring and mitigating this rise in resistance through improved antibiotic stewardship, infection control measures, and education on the proper use of antibiotics. The awareness of the increasing incidence reflects the larger global issue of antibiotic resistance, which poses significant risks to public health.