Communicable disease: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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PSM · Communicable disease

Sample item

What is isolation used for in infection control?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Separate infected persons

Isolation separates people known or suspected to be infectious from others to reduce transmission, while quarantine applies to exposed people who are not yet ill.

Option by option

  • A. Restrict healthy exposed persons

    Restricting exposed well persons describes quarantine.

  • B. Separate infected persons (correct)

    Correct: isolation separates infectious individuals.

  • C. Treat all contacts surgically

    Surgery is not a standard contact-control strategy.

  • D. Replace hand hygiene

    Hand hygiene remains necessary alongside isolation.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More PSM questions

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is B, Separate infected persons. Isolation separates people known or suspected to be infectious from others to reduce transmission, while quarantine applies to exposed people who are not yet ill.

Why is "Restrict healthy exposed persons" not the answer?

Restricting exposed well persons describes quarantine.

Why is "Treat all contacts surgically" not the answer?

Surgery is not a standard contact-control strategy.

Why is "Replace hand hygiene" not the answer?

Hand hygiene remains necessary alongside isolation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Communicable disease in PSM. The correct option holds because: Correct: isolation separates infectious individuals.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Communicable disease?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.