CDC INFECTION PREVENTIONIST POST TEST
AND PRACTICE EXAM NEWEST 2026/ 2027
TEST BANK
Question 1
A nurse assistant is about to perform perineal care on an incontinent resident who
wears briefs. His supplies have already been gathered and placed on the clean
bedside table. He enters the room, dons non-sterile gloves, removes and discards
the resident's soiled brief and cleans the resident's perineum. He removes his
soiled gloves and dons a new pair of non-sterile gloves. He applies a clean brief.
He discards his gloves and exits the room. How many times should he have
performed hand hygiene in this scenario?
• A) 1
• B) 2
• C) 3
• D) Hand hygiene was not required because gloves were worn.
Correct Answer: C) 3
Rationale: The nurse assistant should have performed hand hygiene three times:
before donning the first pair of gloves, after removing the soiled gloves and before
donning the second pair, and after removing the second pair of gloves upon
exiting. Hand hygiene is always required when gloves are removed and when
transitioning from dirty to clean tasks, even when gloves are used .
Question 2
Before performing wound care, if the hands are not visibly soiled, which method
of hand hygiene by staff members is preferred?
• A) Using an alcohol-based hand rub
, • B) Washing hands with soap and water, followed immediately by use of an
alcohol-based hand rub
• C) None. Since gloves should be worn when performing wound care, hand
hygiene is not necessary
• D) Washing hands with soap and water only
Correct Answer: A) Using an alcohol-based hand rub
Rationale: When hands are not visibly soiled, alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) is
the preferred method of hand hygiene because it is more effective for rapid
bacterial killing and is less damaging to skin than soap and water. Soap and water
should be used when hands are visibly soiled or after caring for patients with C.
difficile .
Question 3
Standard Precautions apply when caring for which of the following residents?
• A) Residents with a known infection only
• B) Residents with a suspected infection only
• C) Residents who are immunocompromised only
• D) All residents, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status
Correct Answer: D) All residents, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection
status
Rationale: Standard Precautions are the foundation of infection prevention and
apply to all residents in all healthcare settings, at all times, regardless of whether
an infection is suspected or confirmed. This includes hand hygiene, PPE use,
respiratory hygiene, and safe injection practices .
,Question 4
Removing a central venous catheter (CVC) that is no longer indicated most directly
disrupts which part of the chain of infection?
• A) Infectious agent
• B) Reservoir
• C) Portal of entry
• D) Mode of transmission
Correct Answer: C) Portal of entry
Rationale: The portal of entry is the route by which an infectious agent enters a
susceptible host. A central venous catheter provides a direct pathway into the
bloodstream. Removing an unnecessary catheter eliminates this portal of entry,
breaking the chain of infection .
Question 5
Which of the following are core activities of an infection prevention and control
(IPC) program? (Select all that apply, but choose the BEST single answer that
represents a core activity)
• A) Developing and implementing infection prevention policies
• B) Conducting surveillance for healthcare-associated infections
• C) Providing infection prevention education and training
• D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D) All of the above
Rationale: Core activities of an IPC program include developing and implementing
policies, performing surveillance for HAIs, providing staff education and training,
monitoring adherence to infection prevention practices, and performing outbreak
investigation and response. All listed options are core activities .
, Question 6
A resident is diagnosed with latent TB infection (LTBI). Is there risk that the
resident will transmit TB to others in the facility?
• A) No, there is no risk of transmission at this time
• B) Yes, the resident is very likely to transmit infection to those who are
immunocompromised
• C) No, the resident is not a risk because he/she will be placed in Airborne
Precautions
• D) Yes, the resident is likely to transmit infection to close contacts
Correct Answer: A) No, there is no risk of transmission at this time
Rationale: A resident with LTBI has M. tuberculosis in the body but does not have
signs or symptoms of active TB disease and cannot spread the infection to other
people. Airborne Precautions are not required when caring for residents with
LTBI .
Question 7
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule
restricts healthcare providers from sharing protected health information at
transfer for treatment purposes without patient authorization.
• A) True
• B) False
Correct Answer: B) False
Rationale: The HIPAA Privacy Rule permits healthcare providers to share
protected health information at transfer for treatment purposes without patient
authorization. This is essential for continuity of care and care coordination .
AND PRACTICE EXAM NEWEST 2026/ 2027
TEST BANK
Question 1
A nurse assistant is about to perform perineal care on an incontinent resident who
wears briefs. His supplies have already been gathered and placed on the clean
bedside table. He enters the room, dons non-sterile gloves, removes and discards
the resident's soiled brief and cleans the resident's perineum. He removes his
soiled gloves and dons a new pair of non-sterile gloves. He applies a clean brief.
He discards his gloves and exits the room. How many times should he have
performed hand hygiene in this scenario?
• A) 1
• B) 2
• C) 3
• D) Hand hygiene was not required because gloves were worn.
Correct Answer: C) 3
Rationale: The nurse assistant should have performed hand hygiene three times:
before donning the first pair of gloves, after removing the soiled gloves and before
donning the second pair, and after removing the second pair of gloves upon
exiting. Hand hygiene is always required when gloves are removed and when
transitioning from dirty to clean tasks, even when gloves are used .
Question 2
Before performing wound care, if the hands are not visibly soiled, which method
of hand hygiene by staff members is preferred?
• A) Using an alcohol-based hand rub
, • B) Washing hands with soap and water, followed immediately by use of an
alcohol-based hand rub
• C) None. Since gloves should be worn when performing wound care, hand
hygiene is not necessary
• D) Washing hands with soap and water only
Correct Answer: A) Using an alcohol-based hand rub
Rationale: When hands are not visibly soiled, alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) is
the preferred method of hand hygiene because it is more effective for rapid
bacterial killing and is less damaging to skin than soap and water. Soap and water
should be used when hands are visibly soiled or after caring for patients with C.
difficile .
Question 3
Standard Precautions apply when caring for which of the following residents?
• A) Residents with a known infection only
• B) Residents with a suspected infection only
• C) Residents who are immunocompromised only
• D) All residents, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status
Correct Answer: D) All residents, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection
status
Rationale: Standard Precautions are the foundation of infection prevention and
apply to all residents in all healthcare settings, at all times, regardless of whether
an infection is suspected or confirmed. This includes hand hygiene, PPE use,
respiratory hygiene, and safe injection practices .
,Question 4
Removing a central venous catheter (CVC) that is no longer indicated most directly
disrupts which part of the chain of infection?
• A) Infectious agent
• B) Reservoir
• C) Portal of entry
• D) Mode of transmission
Correct Answer: C) Portal of entry
Rationale: The portal of entry is the route by which an infectious agent enters a
susceptible host. A central venous catheter provides a direct pathway into the
bloodstream. Removing an unnecessary catheter eliminates this portal of entry,
breaking the chain of infection .
Question 5
Which of the following are core activities of an infection prevention and control
(IPC) program? (Select all that apply, but choose the BEST single answer that
represents a core activity)
• A) Developing and implementing infection prevention policies
• B) Conducting surveillance for healthcare-associated infections
• C) Providing infection prevention education and training
• D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D) All of the above
Rationale: Core activities of an IPC program include developing and implementing
policies, performing surveillance for HAIs, providing staff education and training,
monitoring adherence to infection prevention practices, and performing outbreak
investigation and response. All listed options are core activities .
, Question 6
A resident is diagnosed with latent TB infection (LTBI). Is there risk that the
resident will transmit TB to others in the facility?
• A) No, there is no risk of transmission at this time
• B) Yes, the resident is very likely to transmit infection to those who are
immunocompromised
• C) No, the resident is not a risk because he/she will be placed in Airborne
Precautions
• D) Yes, the resident is likely to transmit infection to close contacts
Correct Answer: A) No, there is no risk of transmission at this time
Rationale: A resident with LTBI has M. tuberculosis in the body but does not have
signs or symptoms of active TB disease and cannot spread the infection to other
people. Airborne Precautions are not required when caring for residents with
LTBI .
Question 7
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule
restricts healthcare providers from sharing protected health information at
transfer for treatment purposes without patient authorization.
• A) True
• B) False
Correct Answer: B) False
Rationale: The HIPAA Privacy Rule permits healthcare providers to share
protected health information at transfer for treatment purposes without patient
authorization. This is essential for continuity of care and care coordination .
