CIC PRACTICE EXAM EXAM SCRIPT 2026
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ . The purpose of the antibiogram is to:
a. Provide a monthly report on new and emerging
antimicrobials
b. Give IPs another metric to track
c. Provide information on antimicrobial usage and resistance
patterns in the community
d. Give hospitals information needed for reporting data
through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). Answer: c.
Provide information on antimicrobial usage and resistance patterns
in the community
Rationale: The surveillance of antimicrobial resistance is an
essential first step in identifying priority areas for managing
antimicrobial use from an IP perspective versus a pharmacy or cost-
containment perspective.
An antibiogram simplifies multiple patients' antimicrobial
sensitivity information at an institution into a single number for
pathogens of interest in an effort to monitor trends emerging in drug
,resistance. An antibiogram is a useful tool for the IP to determine the
status of strategies in place to reduce MDROs.
Reference: APIC Text, 4th edition, Chapter 26
◉ 20. The most common organism associated with pneumonia in
school-aged children and young adults is:
a. Neisseria meningitidis
b. Streptococcus pneumoniae
c. Staphylococcus aureus
d. Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Answer: d. Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Rationale: Mycoplasma is Uncommon under the age of 5 but is the
leading cause of pneumonia in school-aged children and young
adults. It can occur during any season and occurs throughout the
world.
◉ 21. The purpose of a root cause analysis is to:
a. Determine which individual made an error so that the
employee may be disciplined or terminated
,b. Review the basic processes that are in place and then turn that
review over to a unit-specific team so that they can determine how
they should modify their practices
c. Provide a process that requires little time or training
but allows employees to identify culpability after an
adverse event
d. Include participants from diverse areas of the organization to
delve into the cause of an 'error or systems failure and identify
changes in practice and/or policy that will prevent a repeat of that
error or event. Answer: d. Include participants from diverse areas of
the organization to delve into the cause of an error or systems
failure and identify changes in practice and/or policy that will
prevent a repeat of that error or event
Rationale: The root cause analysis (RCA) process takes a
retrospective look at adverse outcomes and determines what
happened, why it happened, and what an organization can do to
prevent the situation from recurring.
Risk managers commonly use the RCA to investigate major
incidents, sentinel events, or errors in healthcare delivery.
The RCA process avoids individual blame, considers human factors
engineering, and analyzes redesign for a safer system. When
conducting RCA, a multidisciplinary team discovers basic and
contributing causes for what happened. The team includes frontline
staff, and individuals most familiar with the situation to dig deep
, into the process, asking why something happens at each level of
cause and effect. The entire RCA process identifies changes to a
particular process or system that improves safety or reduces process
error. A thorough RCA determines:
(1) human and other factors;
(2) the process or system involved;
(3) underlying causes and effects of the process; and
(4) the risks and potential contributions
to failure or adverse results.
Reference: APIC Text, 4th edition, Chapter 16
◉ 22. A pediatric patient has been diagnosed with pediculosis. What
is the most appropriate follow-up to prevent it from spreading to
other patients or healthcare professionals?
a. Place the patient on Contact Precautions until 24 hours
after appropriate treatment has been initiated
b. Require all visitors and HCP who enter the room to wear
a disposable scrub cap for any patient contact
c. Use an insecticidal spray in the room after the patent
is discharged
d. Prophylactically treat all family members and anyone
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ . The purpose of the antibiogram is to:
a. Provide a monthly report on new and emerging
antimicrobials
b. Give IPs another metric to track
c. Provide information on antimicrobial usage and resistance
patterns in the community
d. Give hospitals information needed for reporting data
through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). Answer: c.
Provide information on antimicrobial usage and resistance patterns
in the community
Rationale: The surveillance of antimicrobial resistance is an
essential first step in identifying priority areas for managing
antimicrobial use from an IP perspective versus a pharmacy or cost-
containment perspective.
An antibiogram simplifies multiple patients' antimicrobial
sensitivity information at an institution into a single number for
pathogens of interest in an effort to monitor trends emerging in drug
,resistance. An antibiogram is a useful tool for the IP to determine the
status of strategies in place to reduce MDROs.
Reference: APIC Text, 4th edition, Chapter 26
◉ 20. The most common organism associated with pneumonia in
school-aged children and young adults is:
a. Neisseria meningitidis
b. Streptococcus pneumoniae
c. Staphylococcus aureus
d. Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Answer: d. Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Rationale: Mycoplasma is Uncommon under the age of 5 but is the
leading cause of pneumonia in school-aged children and young
adults. It can occur during any season and occurs throughout the
world.
◉ 21. The purpose of a root cause analysis is to:
a. Determine which individual made an error so that the
employee may be disciplined or terminated
,b. Review the basic processes that are in place and then turn that
review over to a unit-specific team so that they can determine how
they should modify their practices
c. Provide a process that requires little time or training
but allows employees to identify culpability after an
adverse event
d. Include participants from diverse areas of the organization to
delve into the cause of an 'error or systems failure and identify
changes in practice and/or policy that will prevent a repeat of that
error or event. Answer: d. Include participants from diverse areas of
the organization to delve into the cause of an error or systems
failure and identify changes in practice and/or policy that will
prevent a repeat of that error or event
Rationale: The root cause analysis (RCA) process takes a
retrospective look at adverse outcomes and determines what
happened, why it happened, and what an organization can do to
prevent the situation from recurring.
Risk managers commonly use the RCA to investigate major
incidents, sentinel events, or errors in healthcare delivery.
The RCA process avoids individual blame, considers human factors
engineering, and analyzes redesign for a safer system. When
conducting RCA, a multidisciplinary team discovers basic and
contributing causes for what happened. The team includes frontline
staff, and individuals most familiar with the situation to dig deep
, into the process, asking why something happens at each level of
cause and effect. The entire RCA process identifies changes to a
particular process or system that improves safety or reduces process
error. A thorough RCA determines:
(1) human and other factors;
(2) the process or system involved;
(3) underlying causes and effects of the process; and
(4) the risks and potential contributions
to failure or adverse results.
Reference: APIC Text, 4th edition, Chapter 16
◉ 22. A pediatric patient has been diagnosed with pediculosis. What
is the most appropriate follow-up to prevent it from spreading to
other patients or healthcare professionals?
a. Place the patient on Contact Precautions until 24 hours
after appropriate treatment has been initiated
b. Require all visitors and HCP who enter the room to wear
a disposable scrub cap for any patient contact
c. Use an insecticidal spray in the room after the patent
is discharged
d. Prophylactically treat all family members and anyone
