American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Practice Test

Which risk factor is NOT associated with MRSA?

1. Injection drug use

2. Long-term care facility

3. Regular exercise

4. Recent antibiotic therapy

The correct answer is: Regular exercise

The option regarding regular exercise is the correct answer because there is no significant evidence or established connection between regular exercise and the risk of acquiring MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus). MRSA is primarily associated with specific risk factors that facilitate its transmission, particularly environments where close contact occurs and where antibiotic-resistant strains can proliferate. Injection drug use, for instance, is a recognized risk factor because it often involves the sharing of needles, which can lead to skin infections and introduce pathogens into the bloodstream. Long-term care facilities are also environments where MRSA can spread more easily due to close proximity among residents and the presence of individuals with compromised immune systems. Recent antibiotic therapy is related to MRSA because it can disrupt normal flora and may lead to opportunistic infections with resistant organisms like MRSA. In contrast, regular physical activity, while beneficial for overall health, does not inherently increase the risk of MRSA acquisition in the same way that these other risk factors do. Therefore, it stands out as the factor not associated with MRSA.