___________________________________________________________________
Certification in Infection Prevention and
Control (CIC®) Exam Practice Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant
Download Pdf
___________________________________________________________________
1. Which term describes the presence of microorganisms on or in a person
without signs or symptoms of disease?
A. Infection
B. Contamination
C. Colonization
D. Sepsis
Answer: C. Colonization
Rationale: Colonization means microorganisms are present and may multiply
without producing clinical signs or symptoms of infection.
2. Which action is most important for preventing transmission of
microorganisms between patients?
A. Wearing a surgical mask for every patient encounter
B. Performing hand hygiene at appropriate moments
C. Using sterile gloves for all patient care
D. Disinfecting the patient's room once daily
,Answer: B. Performing hand hygiene at appropriate moments
Rationale: Hand hygiene is a fundamental infection prevention measure and
interrupts transmission through contaminated hands.
3. Which type of precaution is used for every patient regardless of known or
suspected infection status?
A. Contact Precautions
B. Droplet Precautions
C. Airborne Precautions
D. Standard Precautions
Answer: D. Standard Precautions
Rationale: Standard Precautions apply to all patients and are based on the
principle that blood, body fluids, nonintact skin, and mucous membranes may
contain transmissible infectious agents.
4. A patient with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis requires which additional
precaution?
A. Contact Precautions
B. Droplet Precautions
C. Airborne Precautions
D. Protective environment precautions
Answer: C. Airborne Precautions
Rationale: Suspected or confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis requires Airborne
Precautions because infectious particles can remain suspended in the air.
5. Which PPE is generally appropriate when entering the room of a patient
requiring Contact Precautions?
A. Surgical mask only
B. N95 respirator only
C. Gown and gloves according to the anticipated interaction
D. Sterile gown and sterile gloves for every encounter
,Answer: C. Gown and gloves according to the anticipated interaction
Rationale: Contact Precautions emphasize preventing transmission through
direct or indirect contact. PPE selection should also reflect the anticipated
exposure.
6. Which surveillance measure describes the number of new cases occurring in a
population during a specified period?
A. Prevalence
B. Mortality
C. Incidence
D. Sensitivity
Answer: C. Incidence
Rationale: Incidence measures new cases developing during a defined period
among a population at risk.
7. Which measure includes both existing and new cases present in a population
at a specified time?
A. Incidence
B. Attack rate
C. Case-fatality rate
D. Prevalence
Answer: D. Prevalence
Rationale: Prevalence represents the proportion of a population with a condition
at a particular point or during a specified period.
8. What is the primary purpose of establishing a case definition during an
outbreak investigation?
A. To identify the pathogen's antimicrobial susceptibility
B. To consistently determine who should be classified as a case
C. To determine which employees require vaccination
D. To calculate the cost of the outbreak
, Answer: B. To consistently determine who should be classified as a case
Rationale: A standardized case definition ensures that cases are identified
consistently during an epidemiologic investigation.
9. Which sequence best represents a basic outbreak investigation approach?
A. Implement controls, then determine whether an outbreak exists
B. Collect environmental samples, then define the cases
C. Verify the outbreak, establish a case definition, conduct case finding, and
investigate the source
D. Notify the media, then begin laboratory testing
Answer: C. Verify the outbreak, establish a case definition, conduct case finding,
and investigate the source
Rationale: Outbreak investigations begin by confirming that an unusual increase
exists and then systematically defining, identifying, and characterizing cases.
10. Which epidemiologic characteristic refers to where cases occur?
A. Person
B. Time
C. Place
D. Host
Answer: C. Place
Rationale: Person, place, and time are fundamental descriptive epidemiologic
characteristics used to characterize disease occurrence.
11. Which finding most strongly suggests a point-source outbreak?
A. Cases occurring at random intervals for years
B. Cases clustered within a relatively short period after a common exposure
C. Cases occurring only among healthcare workers
D. Cases appearing after separate unrelated exposures
Answer: B. Cases clustered within a relatively short period after a common
exposure
Certification in Infection Prevention and
Control (CIC®) Exam Practice Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant
Download Pdf
___________________________________________________________________
1. Which term describes the presence of microorganisms on or in a person
without signs or symptoms of disease?
A. Infection
B. Contamination
C. Colonization
D. Sepsis
Answer: C. Colonization
Rationale: Colonization means microorganisms are present and may multiply
without producing clinical signs or symptoms of infection.
2. Which action is most important for preventing transmission of
microorganisms between patients?
A. Wearing a surgical mask for every patient encounter
B. Performing hand hygiene at appropriate moments
C. Using sterile gloves for all patient care
D. Disinfecting the patient's room once daily
,Answer: B. Performing hand hygiene at appropriate moments
Rationale: Hand hygiene is a fundamental infection prevention measure and
interrupts transmission through contaminated hands.
3. Which type of precaution is used for every patient regardless of known or
suspected infection status?
A. Contact Precautions
B. Droplet Precautions
C. Airborne Precautions
D. Standard Precautions
Answer: D. Standard Precautions
Rationale: Standard Precautions apply to all patients and are based on the
principle that blood, body fluids, nonintact skin, and mucous membranes may
contain transmissible infectious agents.
4. A patient with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis requires which additional
precaution?
A. Contact Precautions
B. Droplet Precautions
C. Airborne Precautions
D. Protective environment precautions
Answer: C. Airborne Precautions
Rationale: Suspected or confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis requires Airborne
Precautions because infectious particles can remain suspended in the air.
5. Which PPE is generally appropriate when entering the room of a patient
requiring Contact Precautions?
A. Surgical mask only
B. N95 respirator only
C. Gown and gloves according to the anticipated interaction
D. Sterile gown and sterile gloves for every encounter
,Answer: C. Gown and gloves according to the anticipated interaction
Rationale: Contact Precautions emphasize preventing transmission through
direct or indirect contact. PPE selection should also reflect the anticipated
exposure.
6. Which surveillance measure describes the number of new cases occurring in a
population during a specified period?
A. Prevalence
B. Mortality
C. Incidence
D. Sensitivity
Answer: C. Incidence
Rationale: Incidence measures new cases developing during a defined period
among a population at risk.
7. Which measure includes both existing and new cases present in a population
at a specified time?
A. Incidence
B. Attack rate
C. Case-fatality rate
D. Prevalence
Answer: D. Prevalence
Rationale: Prevalence represents the proportion of a population with a condition
at a particular point or during a specified period.
8. What is the primary purpose of establishing a case definition during an
outbreak investigation?
A. To identify the pathogen's antimicrobial susceptibility
B. To consistently determine who should be classified as a case
C. To determine which employees require vaccination
D. To calculate the cost of the outbreak
, Answer: B. To consistently determine who should be classified as a case
Rationale: A standardized case definition ensures that cases are identified
consistently during an epidemiologic investigation.
9. Which sequence best represents a basic outbreak investigation approach?
A. Implement controls, then determine whether an outbreak exists
B. Collect environmental samples, then define the cases
C. Verify the outbreak, establish a case definition, conduct case finding, and
investigate the source
D. Notify the media, then begin laboratory testing
Answer: C. Verify the outbreak, establish a case definition, conduct case finding,
and investigate the source
Rationale: Outbreak investigations begin by confirming that an unusual increase
exists and then systematically defining, identifying, and characterizing cases.
10. Which epidemiologic characteristic refers to where cases occur?
A. Person
B. Time
C. Place
D. Host
Answer: C. Place
Rationale: Person, place, and time are fundamental descriptive epidemiologic
characteristics used to characterize disease occurrence.
11. Which finding most strongly suggests a point-source outbreak?
A. Cases occurring at random intervals for years
B. Cases clustered within a relatively short period after a common exposure
C. Cases occurring only among healthcare workers
D. Cases appearing after separate unrelated exposures
Answer: B. Cases clustered within a relatively short period after a common
exposure
