Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) Sterile Processing Technician Practice Exam

Which of the following requires a living host to multiply?

1. Bacteria

2. Viruses

3. Fungi

4. Protozoa

The correct answer is: Viruses

The requirement for a living host to multiply is a characteristic unique to viruses. Unlike bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, viruses are unable to carry out metabolic processes on their own and must invade a living cell to replicate. Once a virus enters a host cell, it utilizes the cellular machinery of the host to produce new virus particles, effectively hijacking the host's functions to facilitate its own multiplication. Bacteria, on the other hand, are capable of reproducing independently of a host through processes such as binary fission. Fungi and protozoa also have the ability to grow and reproduce without the necessity of invading a living host. Therefore, the distinctive property of requiring a living host for replication clearly identifies viruses as the correct answer. This understanding is crucial for sterile processing technicians, as it has important implications for infection control and prevention strategies in healthcare settings.