A-IPC Exam Study Guide QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS 2025/2026
The bacterium most likely to be transmitted from mother to
infant during labor and cause neonatal sepsis is:
a. Escherichia coli
b. Staphylococcus aureus
c. Group B Streptococcus
d. Group A Streptococcus - ✔✔c. Group B Streptococcus
Which of the following is an example of the criterion of
"Strength of the Association" from Hill's criteria for causation?
a. In a study of the association between antibiotic exposure and
development of C. difficile infection, the odds ratio was 2:3
b. In a study of the association between antibiotic exposure and
development of C. difficile infection, the authors' conclusions
are consistent with those of three other studies
c. In a study of the association between antibiotic exposure and
development of C. difficile infection, antibiotic therapy began
an average of 3 weeks before C. difficile infection developed
,d. In a study of the association between antibiotic exposure and
development of C. difficile infection, prolonged antibiotic
therapy was a greater risk factor for C. difficile infection than
short-term antibiotic therapy - ✔✔a. In a study of the
association between antibiotic exposure and development of C.
difficile infection, the odds ratio was 2:3
Which of the following rules should be followed when collecting
a stool sample for C. difficile testing?
1) Stool sample should be freshly passed within 1-2 hours
2) 10-20mL. of formed stool should be collected
3) Stool should be passed into a clean, dry container
4) Specimens should be obtained before antimicrobial agents
have been administered
a. 1, 2
b. 2, 3
c. 1, 3
d. 1, 4 - ✔✔c. 1, 3
What type of meningitis would be most consistent with the
following cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) report result:
,Glucose= Decreased; Protein= Elevated; WBC counts=
1,000/mm3
a. Bacterial
b. Viral
c. Fungal
d. Tuberculosis - ✔✔a. Bacterial
The following blood culture result should be considered a
potential contaminant:
a. A positive result of coagulase-negative staphylococci from
two sets, 2 days apart, without symptoms
b. A positive result of S. aureus from one bottle in a patient with
a temperature of 38.6°C
c. A positive result of E. coli from one bottle in an afebrile
patient with diarrhea
d. A positive result of Candida albicans in a fungal blood culture
in a patient with a urinary tract infection - ✔✔a. A positive
result of coagulase-negative staphylococci from two sets, 2 days
apart, without symptoms
, Which of the following organisms have been associated with
the transmission of infections after body piercing?
1) Atypical Mycobacterium species
2) Staphylococcus species
3) Pseudomonas species
4) Haemophilus species
a. 1, 2, 3
b. 2, 3, 4
c. 1, 3, 4
d. 1, 2, 4 - ✔✔a. 1, 2, 3
The Director of the Operating Room (OR) requests that the OR
surfaces be routinely environmentally cultured. The IP's best
response should be:
a. A schedule for routine culturing of the OR should be arranged
so that each room is cultured at a set interval
b. Routine culturing of the OR should be done in the absence of
any epidemiologic investigations in that area
c. Routine culturing should not be done because it is too
expensive
ANSWERS 2025/2026
The bacterium most likely to be transmitted from mother to
infant during labor and cause neonatal sepsis is:
a. Escherichia coli
b. Staphylococcus aureus
c. Group B Streptococcus
d. Group A Streptococcus - ✔✔c. Group B Streptococcus
Which of the following is an example of the criterion of
"Strength of the Association" from Hill's criteria for causation?
a. In a study of the association between antibiotic exposure and
development of C. difficile infection, the odds ratio was 2:3
b. In a study of the association between antibiotic exposure and
development of C. difficile infection, the authors' conclusions
are consistent with those of three other studies
c. In a study of the association between antibiotic exposure and
development of C. difficile infection, antibiotic therapy began
an average of 3 weeks before C. difficile infection developed
,d. In a study of the association between antibiotic exposure and
development of C. difficile infection, prolonged antibiotic
therapy was a greater risk factor for C. difficile infection than
short-term antibiotic therapy - ✔✔a. In a study of the
association between antibiotic exposure and development of C.
difficile infection, the odds ratio was 2:3
Which of the following rules should be followed when collecting
a stool sample for C. difficile testing?
1) Stool sample should be freshly passed within 1-2 hours
2) 10-20mL. of formed stool should be collected
3) Stool should be passed into a clean, dry container
4) Specimens should be obtained before antimicrobial agents
have been administered
a. 1, 2
b. 2, 3
c. 1, 3
d. 1, 4 - ✔✔c. 1, 3
What type of meningitis would be most consistent with the
following cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) report result:
,Glucose= Decreased; Protein= Elevated; WBC counts=
1,000/mm3
a. Bacterial
b. Viral
c. Fungal
d. Tuberculosis - ✔✔a. Bacterial
The following blood culture result should be considered a
potential contaminant:
a. A positive result of coagulase-negative staphylococci from
two sets, 2 days apart, without symptoms
b. A positive result of S. aureus from one bottle in a patient with
a temperature of 38.6°C
c. A positive result of E. coli from one bottle in an afebrile
patient with diarrhea
d. A positive result of Candida albicans in a fungal blood culture
in a patient with a urinary tract infection - ✔✔a. A positive
result of coagulase-negative staphylococci from two sets, 2 days
apart, without symptoms
, Which of the following organisms have been associated with
the transmission of infections after body piercing?
1) Atypical Mycobacterium species
2) Staphylococcus species
3) Pseudomonas species
4) Haemophilus species
a. 1, 2, 3
b. 2, 3, 4
c. 1, 3, 4
d. 1, 2, 4 - ✔✔a. 1, 2, 3
The Director of the Operating Room (OR) requests that the OR
surfaces be routinely environmentally cultured. The IP's best
response should be:
a. A schedule for routine culturing of the OR should be arranged
so that each room is cultured at a set interval
b. Routine culturing of the OR should be done in the absence of
any epidemiologic investigations in that area
c. Routine culturing should not be done because it is too
expensive
