Associate in Infection Prevention and Control (a-IPC™)
Exam Prep 2026 Updated Practice Questions –
Comprehensive Infection Prevention and Control Review
Verified Answers – Detailed Rationales – Success Workbook
SECTION 1: PROCESSES TO IDENTIFY INFECTIOUS DISEASES (14
Items)
Question 1
A patient presents with fever, cough, and night sweats. A sputum culture is
positive for acid-fast bacilli. Which of the following is the most
appropriate infection prevention action?
A) Initiate contact precautions only
B) Initiate airborne precautions and notify the health department
C) Initiate droplet precautions and continue routine care
D) No additional precautions are needed
Rationale: Acid-fast bacilli in sputum are indicative of tuberculosis (TB), which is
transmitted via the airborne route. Airborne precautions (negative pressure room,
N95 respirator) are required. TB is a reportable disease, so the health department
must be notified.
Question 2
Which of the following best differentiates colonization from infection?
A) Colonization causes fever; infection does not
B) Colonization involves the presence of microorganisms without host
response; infection involves microbial invasion with host response
C) Colonization requires antibiotic treatment; infection does not
D) Colonization is always symptomatic; infection is asymptomatic
Rationale: Colonization means microorganisms are present on or in the body
without causing tissue damage or an immune response. Infection involves invasion
of microorganisms with a host inflammatory response and clinical
signs/symptoms.
,Question 3
A healthcare worker is collecting a blood culture from a patient with suspected
sepsis. Which of the following is the correct practice for specimen collection?
A) Collect the specimen from an existing intravenous line
B) Clean the site with appropriate antiseptic, allow it to dry, and collect using
sterile technique
C) Collect the specimen immediately after antibiotic administration
D) Use non-sterile gloves only
Rationale: Blood culture specimens must be collected using sterile
technique with appropriate skin antisepsis (e.g., chlorhexidine or alcohol). The
antiseptic must be allowed to dry completely to maximize effectiveness.
Specimens should be collected before antibiotics are administered when possible.
Question 4
A patient is prescribed antibiotics prior to a surgical procedure. This is an example
of:
A) Empiric therapy
B) Therapeutic therapy
C) Prophylactic therapy
D) Palliative therapy
Rationale: Prophylactic antibiotics are given before surgery to prevent surgical
site infections. This differs from empiric therapy (given before culture results are
available) and therapeutic therapy (given to treat a confirmed infection).
Question 5
A patient who recently traveled to a malaria-endemic region presents with fever,
chills, and anemia. Which of the following is the most important risk factor to
assess?
A) Occupation
B) Vaccination status
,C) Travel history
D) Surgical history
Rationale: Travel history is a critical risk factor for infectious diseases such as
malaria, dengue, and Zika. The IP must assess travel history when evaluating
patients with febrile illnesses to identify possible imported infections.
Question 6
A microbiology report identifies Candida albicans from a wound culture. This
organism is classified as:
A) A bacterium
B) A virus
C) A fungus
D) A parasite
Rationale: Candida albicans is a fungus (yeast) that commonly causes healthcare-
associated infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Understanding
the classification of microorganisms is essential for identifying infectious disease
processes.
Question 7
An infection preventionist is reviewing laboratory reports and identifies a patient
with a multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) . Which of the following is the
most important next step?
A) Discontinue all antibiotic therapy
B) Notify the healthcare team and implement appropriate transmission-based
precautions
C) Discharge the patient immediately
D) Ignore the finding as it is common
Rationale: Identification of an MDRO requires prompt action to prevent
transmission. The healthcare team must be notified, and contact
precautions should be implemented according to facility policy and CDC
guidelines.
, Question 8
A patient with a urinary catheter develops fever and cloudy urine. The urinalysis
shows white blood cells and bacteria. This is most consistent with:
A) Colonization
B) Contamination
C) A urinary tract infection (UTI)
D) A pseudo-infection
Rationale: The presence of fever, cloudy urine, and laboratory findings of white
blood cells and bacteria indicate a urinary tract infection—an infection with host
response. Catheter-associated UTIs (CAUTIs) are common healthcare-associated
infections.
Question 9
Which of the following is an emerging global health threat that infection
preventionists should monitor?
A) Seasonal influenza
B) Avian influenza (H5N1)
C) The common cold
D) Allergic rhinitis
Rationale: Avian influenza (H5N1) is an emerging zoonotic disease with
pandemic potential. Infection preventionists must stay informed about emerging
local and global health threats through public health organizations.
Question 10
A patient's wound culture grows Staphylococcus aureus. The laboratory report
indicates the organism is methicillin-resistant (MRSA) . This finding is
significant because:
A) MRSA is easier to treat than methicillin-susceptible strains
B) MRSA is resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics and requires specific infection
prevention measures
Exam Prep 2026 Updated Practice Questions –
Comprehensive Infection Prevention and Control Review
Verified Answers – Detailed Rationales – Success Workbook
SECTION 1: PROCESSES TO IDENTIFY INFECTIOUS DISEASES (14
Items)
Question 1
A patient presents with fever, cough, and night sweats. A sputum culture is
positive for acid-fast bacilli. Which of the following is the most
appropriate infection prevention action?
A) Initiate contact precautions only
B) Initiate airborne precautions and notify the health department
C) Initiate droplet precautions and continue routine care
D) No additional precautions are needed
Rationale: Acid-fast bacilli in sputum are indicative of tuberculosis (TB), which is
transmitted via the airborne route. Airborne precautions (negative pressure room,
N95 respirator) are required. TB is a reportable disease, so the health department
must be notified.
Question 2
Which of the following best differentiates colonization from infection?
A) Colonization causes fever; infection does not
B) Colonization involves the presence of microorganisms without host
response; infection involves microbial invasion with host response
C) Colonization requires antibiotic treatment; infection does not
D) Colonization is always symptomatic; infection is asymptomatic
Rationale: Colonization means microorganisms are present on or in the body
without causing tissue damage or an immune response. Infection involves invasion
of microorganisms with a host inflammatory response and clinical
signs/symptoms.
,Question 3
A healthcare worker is collecting a blood culture from a patient with suspected
sepsis. Which of the following is the correct practice for specimen collection?
A) Collect the specimen from an existing intravenous line
B) Clean the site with appropriate antiseptic, allow it to dry, and collect using
sterile technique
C) Collect the specimen immediately after antibiotic administration
D) Use non-sterile gloves only
Rationale: Blood culture specimens must be collected using sterile
technique with appropriate skin antisepsis (e.g., chlorhexidine or alcohol). The
antiseptic must be allowed to dry completely to maximize effectiveness.
Specimens should be collected before antibiotics are administered when possible.
Question 4
A patient is prescribed antibiotics prior to a surgical procedure. This is an example
of:
A) Empiric therapy
B) Therapeutic therapy
C) Prophylactic therapy
D) Palliative therapy
Rationale: Prophylactic antibiotics are given before surgery to prevent surgical
site infections. This differs from empiric therapy (given before culture results are
available) and therapeutic therapy (given to treat a confirmed infection).
Question 5
A patient who recently traveled to a malaria-endemic region presents with fever,
chills, and anemia. Which of the following is the most important risk factor to
assess?
A) Occupation
B) Vaccination status
,C) Travel history
D) Surgical history
Rationale: Travel history is a critical risk factor for infectious diseases such as
malaria, dengue, and Zika. The IP must assess travel history when evaluating
patients with febrile illnesses to identify possible imported infections.
Question 6
A microbiology report identifies Candida albicans from a wound culture. This
organism is classified as:
A) A bacterium
B) A virus
C) A fungus
D) A parasite
Rationale: Candida albicans is a fungus (yeast) that commonly causes healthcare-
associated infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Understanding
the classification of microorganisms is essential for identifying infectious disease
processes.
Question 7
An infection preventionist is reviewing laboratory reports and identifies a patient
with a multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) . Which of the following is the
most important next step?
A) Discontinue all antibiotic therapy
B) Notify the healthcare team and implement appropriate transmission-based
precautions
C) Discharge the patient immediately
D) Ignore the finding as it is common
Rationale: Identification of an MDRO requires prompt action to prevent
transmission. The healthcare team must be notified, and contact
precautions should be implemented according to facility policy and CDC
guidelines.
, Question 8
A patient with a urinary catheter develops fever and cloudy urine. The urinalysis
shows white blood cells and bacteria. This is most consistent with:
A) Colonization
B) Contamination
C) A urinary tract infection (UTI)
D) A pseudo-infection
Rationale: The presence of fever, cloudy urine, and laboratory findings of white
blood cells and bacteria indicate a urinary tract infection—an infection with host
response. Catheter-associated UTIs (CAUTIs) are common healthcare-associated
infections.
Question 9
Which of the following is an emerging global health threat that infection
preventionists should monitor?
A) Seasonal influenza
B) Avian influenza (H5N1)
C) The common cold
D) Allergic rhinitis
Rationale: Avian influenza (H5N1) is an emerging zoonotic disease with
pandemic potential. Infection preventionists must stay informed about emerging
local and global health threats through public health organizations.
Question 10
A patient's wound culture grows Staphylococcus aureus. The laboratory report
indicates the organism is methicillin-resistant (MRSA) . This finding is
significant because:
A) MRSA is easier to treat than methicillin-susceptible strains
B) MRSA is resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics and requires specific infection
prevention measures
