CERTIFIED INFECTION CONTROL (CIC)
EXAM QUESTION AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A INSTANT
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1. The primary goal of an infection prevention and control program is to:
A. Reduce healthcare costs
B. Improve patient satisfaction
C. Prevent transmission of infectious agents
D. Increase staff productivity
Rationale: The core purpose of infection prevention programs is to prevent
and control the spread of infections among patients, healthcare workers,
and the community.
2. Which microorganism is most commonly associated with healthcare-
associated urinary tract infections (HAUTIs)?
A. Staphylococcus aureus
B. Enterococcus faecalis
C. Escherichia coli
D. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Rationale: E. coli is the most frequent cause of catheter-associated and
non–catheter-associated UTIs in healthcare settings.
3. The chain of infection includes all of the following except:
A. Infectious agent
B. Reservoir
C. Host immunity level
, D. Mode of transmission
Rationale: The chain of infection consists of six elements; host immunity
influences susceptibility but is not a formal link in the chain.
4. Standard Precautions should be applied to:
A. Only patients with known infections
B. Only patients in isolation
C. Only high-risk patients
D. All patients regardless of diagnosis
Rationale: Standard Precautions are designed to reduce risk from both
known and unknown sources of infection and apply to all patients.
5. The most effective method for preventing transmission of pathogens in
healthcare settings is:
A. Use of antibiotics
B. Environmental cleaning
C. Hand hygiene
D. Use of PPE
Rationale: Hand hygiene is universally recognized as the single most
important measure to prevent infection transmission.
6. Alcohol-based hand rubs are ineffective against which organism?
A. Influenza virus
B. HIV
C. MRSA
D. Clostridioides difficile spores
Rationale: Alcohol-based hand rubs do not kill bacterial spores such as C.
difficile; soap and water are required.
7. Contact Precautions are indicated for patients with:
A. Tuberculosis
B. Measles
C. MRSA colonization
D. Varicella
, Rationale: MRSA is transmitted primarily through direct or indirect
contact, requiring Contact Precautions.
8. Which type of isolation room is required for airborne infections?
A. Positive pressure room
B. Standard private room
C. Negative pressure room
D. Cohort room
Rationale: Negative pressure rooms prevent airborne pathogens from
escaping into adjacent areas.
9. Which pathogen is most commonly associated with surgical site infections?
A. E. coli
B. Staphylococcus aureus
C. Candida albicans
D. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Rationale: S. aureus, including MRSA, is the leading cause of surgical site
infections.
10.The best method to monitor hand hygiene compliance is:
A. Product utilization rates
B. Self-reporting
C. Direct observation
D. Patient surveys
Rationale: Direct observation provides the most accurate assessment of
hand hygiene practices.
11.Which factor increases the risk of healthcare-associated pneumonia?
A. Early ambulation
B. Incentive spirometry
C. Mechanical ventilation
D. Oral feeding
EXAM QUESTION AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1. The primary goal of an infection prevention and control program is to:
A. Reduce healthcare costs
B. Improve patient satisfaction
C. Prevent transmission of infectious agents
D. Increase staff productivity
Rationale: The core purpose of infection prevention programs is to prevent
and control the spread of infections among patients, healthcare workers,
and the community.
2. Which microorganism is most commonly associated with healthcare-
associated urinary tract infections (HAUTIs)?
A. Staphylococcus aureus
B. Enterococcus faecalis
C. Escherichia coli
D. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Rationale: E. coli is the most frequent cause of catheter-associated and
non–catheter-associated UTIs in healthcare settings.
3. The chain of infection includes all of the following except:
A. Infectious agent
B. Reservoir
C. Host immunity level
, D. Mode of transmission
Rationale: The chain of infection consists of six elements; host immunity
influences susceptibility but is not a formal link in the chain.
4. Standard Precautions should be applied to:
A. Only patients with known infections
B. Only patients in isolation
C. Only high-risk patients
D. All patients regardless of diagnosis
Rationale: Standard Precautions are designed to reduce risk from both
known and unknown sources of infection and apply to all patients.
5. The most effective method for preventing transmission of pathogens in
healthcare settings is:
A. Use of antibiotics
B. Environmental cleaning
C. Hand hygiene
D. Use of PPE
Rationale: Hand hygiene is universally recognized as the single most
important measure to prevent infection transmission.
6. Alcohol-based hand rubs are ineffective against which organism?
A. Influenza virus
B. HIV
C. MRSA
D. Clostridioides difficile spores
Rationale: Alcohol-based hand rubs do not kill bacterial spores such as C.
difficile; soap and water are required.
7. Contact Precautions are indicated for patients with:
A. Tuberculosis
B. Measles
C. MRSA colonization
D. Varicella
, Rationale: MRSA is transmitted primarily through direct or indirect
contact, requiring Contact Precautions.
8. Which type of isolation room is required for airborne infections?
A. Positive pressure room
B. Standard private room
C. Negative pressure room
D. Cohort room
Rationale: Negative pressure rooms prevent airborne pathogens from
escaping into adjacent areas.
9. Which pathogen is most commonly associated with surgical site infections?
A. E. coli
B. Staphylococcus aureus
C. Candida albicans
D. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Rationale: S. aureus, including MRSA, is the leading cause of surgical site
infections.
10.The best method to monitor hand hygiene compliance is:
A. Product utilization rates
B. Self-reporting
C. Direct observation
D. Patient surveys
Rationale: Direct observation provides the most accurate assessment of
hand hygiene practices.
11.Which factor increases the risk of healthcare-associated pneumonia?
A. Early ambulation
B. Incentive spirometry
C. Mechanical ventilation
D. Oral feeding
