Question

A client who has syphilis tells the nurse that it must have been contracted from a toilet seat. the nurse knows that this cannot be true because of what property of the causative agent of syphilis?

Answer 1

It is inactivated when exposed to a dry environment

Answer 2

The syphilis is a bacterial infection and a sexually transmitted disease (STD). It is normally transmitted by coming in contact with the sexually secreted body fluids. The bacteria require a moist environment for it to remain active. The bacteria become inactive or dormant in a dry place. If the toilet seat was dry and had not body fluids like the semen on it then the point that the nurse made makes sense.