CIC: Practice Exam 1 Questions and Answers 100% Pass

©FYNDLAY 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED




CIC: Practice Exam 1 Questions and
Answers 100% Pass



1. 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 - ANS Group B Streptococcus


Rationale: In Group B Streptococcus (GBS) neonatal infections, heavy maternal colonization is
associated with an increased risk for preterm labor, which in turn is a significant risk factor for
neonatal infection. Intrauterine
infection of the fetus therefore likely occurs via ascending spread of GBS from the vagina of a
pregnant, asymptomatically colonized woman and subsequent rupture of membranes before
37 weeks' gestation.


Reference: APIC Text, 4th edition, Chapter 94 - Streptococci


2. 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

©FYNDLAY 1

, ©FYNDLAY 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


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 - ANS In a study of the association between antibiotic exposure
and development of C. difficile infection, the odds ratio was 2:3


Rationale: Causal associations exist when evidence indicates that one factor is clearly shown to
increase the probability of the occurrence of a disease. In a causal relationship, the reduction or
diminution of a factor decreases the frequency of the disease being studied.


The criteria currently used for causality were developed by Austin Bradford Hill and are known
as Hill's criteria. These criteria use modern epidemiological methods to determine whether a
factor is causal for a given disease. Strength of association is the first criterion: The incidence of
disease should be higher in those who are exposed to the factor under consideration than in
those who are not exposed; that is, the stronger the association between an exposure and a
disease, the more likely the exposure is to be causal.


The odds ratio is a statistical measure that gives us an indication of how strongly the risk factor
is associated with
the disease outcome.


Reference: APIC Text, 4th edition, Chapter 10


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) 10-20rnL. of formed stool should be collected
3) Stool should be passed into a clean, dry container

©FYNDLAY 2

, ©FYNDLAY 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


4) Specimens should be obtained before antimicrobial agents have been administered


a. 1,2
b. 2,3
c. 1,3

d. 1,4 - ANS 1, 3
1) Stool sample should be freshly passed within 1-2 hours
3) Stool should be passed into a clean, dry container


Rationale: The accuracy of all tests depends on proper specimen handling and transport. The
following rules should be followed when collecting samples for C. difficile testing:
• Stool samples should be freshly passed within 1-2 hours
• 10-20 mL of watery, soft, or unformed stool should be collected
• Stool should be passed into a clean, dry container


Reference: APIC Text, 4th edition, Chapter 72


4. What type of meningitis would be most consistent with the following cerebrospinal fluid
(CSF) report result:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Glucose: decreased
Protein: elevated
WBC: 1,000/mm(3)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
a. Bacterial
b. Viral
c. Fungal


©FYNDLAY 3

, ©FYNDLAY 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


d. Tuberculosis - ANS Bacterial


Rationale: Culture of blood and CSF are indicated for patients with suspected invasive
meningococcal disease. The CSF of- patients with untreated meningococcal meningitis is
usually:
cloudy
pleocytosis (>WBC in CSF) with a predominance of neutrophils,
low glucose,
high protein levels
In most of the cases, the organisms are seen on Gram stain or can be identified using latex
agglutination assays. The culture is almost invariably positive as long as the samples was
obtained before the administration of antibiotics.


Reference: APIC Text, 4th edition, Chapter 74 - Central Nervous
System Infection


5. 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 - ANS A positive result of coagulase negative staphylococci from two sets, 2 days
apart without symptoms


Rationale: According to the CDC CLABSI criteria, common commensals (such as coagulase-
negative staphylococci) meet the criteria for a CLABSI if there are two positive cultures from
two or more sets of blood cultures drawn " less than 2 days apart" and the patient has
symptoms (fever greater than 38°C, chills, or hypotension).




©FYNDLAY 4