Colorado CNA Practice Exam

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Prepare for the Colorado CNA Exam with expert-designed quizzes. Learn with helpful tips and multiple choice questions, complete with hints and detailed explanations. Ace your certification!

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What is an opportunistic infection?

An infection that affects everyone regardless of immunity
An illness caused by microorganisms that causes disease in people with weakened immune systems
An infection resulting from a surgical procedure
A common cold that everyone catches

The correct answer is: An infection that affects everyone regardless of immunity

An opportunistic infection refers specifically to illnesses caused by pathogens that take advantage of a host with a weakened immune system. These infections typically do not cause disease in individuals with healthy immune systems. The correct choice highlights that these infections are particularly harmful to those who have compromised immunity, such as individuals with HIV/AIDS, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, or anyone on immunosuppressive therapies. Pathogens that are typically harmless can become life-threatening when the immune defenses are lowered, making options that describe infections affecting everyone or those resulting from surgical procedures not applicable in this context. Understanding opportunistic infections is crucial for caregivers, as they need to be vigilant about protecting vulnerable individuals from these kinds of illnesses.