Clinical microbiology and hospital infection control: scabies outbreak: practice question

A Microbiology 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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Microbiology · Clinical microbiology and hospital infection control: scabies outbreak

Sample item

Several patients and two nurses in a long-term care ward develop intensely itchy rashes worse at night, with burrows between fingers. What is the best infection control response?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Treat cases and close contacts at the same time, with contact precautions and laundering of linen

Scabies spreads by prolonged skin contact and fomites, so symptomatic patients and close contacts are treated simultaneously with permethrin or ivermectin, with contact precautions and hot washing of linen. Treating only symptomatic cases leaves a reservoir, and airborne precautions and antibiotics are not appropriate.

Option by option

  • A. Airborne isolation with N95 respirators

    Scabies is not airborne, so N95 respirators are unnecessary.

  • B. Stop all visitors and treat with oral antibiotics

    Oral antibiotics do not kill the mite.

  • C. Treat cases and close contacts at the same time, with contact precautions and laundering of linen (correct)

    Correct. Simultaneous treatment of cases and contacts with contact precautions controls spread.

  • D. Treat only the patients who have symptoms

    Treating only symptomatic patients leaves infected contacts who reseed the outbreak.

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.

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Questions about this Microbiology question

What is the answer to this Microbiology question?

The best answer is C, Treat cases and close contacts at the same time, with contact precautions and laundering of linen. Scabies spreads by prolonged skin contact and fomites, so symptomatic patients and close contacts are treated simultaneously with permethrin or ivermectin, with contact precautions and hot washing of linen.

Why is "Airborne isolation with N95 respirators" not the answer?

Scabies is not airborne, so N95 respirators are unnecessary.

Why is "Stop all visitors and treat with oral antibiotics" not the answer?

Oral antibiotics do not kill the mite.

Why is "Treat only the patients who have symptoms" not the answer?

Treating only symptomatic patients leaves infected contacts who reseed the outbreak.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Clinical microbiology and hospital infection control: scabies outbreak in Microbiology. Treating only symptomatic cases leaves a reservoir, and airborne precautions and antibiotics are not appropriate.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Clinical microbiology and hospital infection control: scabies outbreak?

Make a one-line identity card for each organism: shape and stain, defining test, toxin, disease and drug. Then use the flashcards and the other Microbiology 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.