CIC Exam Questions And Answers
Causative agent - Answer - microbial organism with the ability to cause disease
Reservoir of the agent - Answer - where organism can survive but may or may not multiply (Humans,
animals, insects, food, environment: HepB on a hemodialysis machine, healthcare workers)
Portal of exit of the agent from the reservoir - Answer - provides a way for a microorganism to leave the
reservoir (respiratory: nose, mouth; GI: feces; skin; inanimate objects)
Mode of transmission of the agent - Answer - method of transfer by which the organism moves or is
carried from one place to another (hands, air/droplets, objects)
Portal of entry into host— - Answer - an opening allowing the microorganism to enter the host (mouth,
nose, indwelling devices, contaminated food/water, wounds
Susceptible host - Answer - microorganism invading the body, then multiplying, and resulting in
infection. The host is susceptible to the disease, lacking immunity of physical resistance to overcome the
invasion by the pathogenic micoorganism
Virulence - Answer - Ability to grow and multiply
Infectivity - Answer - Ability to enter tissues
Pathogenicity - Answer - Ability to cause disease
Duration of Exposure - Answer - Length of time the person is exposed to the organism
Size of Inoculum - Answer - The number of organisms needed to cause disease
Sensitivity: - Answer - a test to prove that a positive test is truly positive
, Specificity: - Answer - a test to prove that a negative test is truly negative
Biofilm - Answer - Attach to surfaces and can spread infection
•Contain cohabiting microorganisms which may be part of the host normal flora.
•Can form on living or non living surfaces
•Prevents water-soluble elements such as antibiotics and disinfectants from reaching pathogens
•Not culturable, necessitating newer nonculture lab techniques
Prophylactic: - Answer - antimicrobial given to prevent infection when there has been potential
exposure or when situation will involve potential risk for infection
Empiric - Answer - antimicrobial therapy (usually broad spectrum) initiated when no information about
the causative agent is known, patient sufficiently ill to warrant treatment before culture and sensitivity
tests are available or site of infection may indicate likely pathogen
Therapeutic - Answer - pathogen directed
A patient has VRE from a rectal swab but does not have any signs and symptoms of being sick. This
patient has a VRE _______. - Answer - Colonization
Which part of the chain of infection does a sneeze represent? - Answer - Mode of transmission of the
agent
What is the name for a substance that prevents water-soluble elements such as antibiotics and
disinfectants from reaching pathogens? - Answer - Biofilm
Type of germicidal action required for semi-critical
items: - Answer - Kills all microorganisms except high numbers of
bacterial spores
Causative agent - Answer - microbial organism with the ability to cause disease
Reservoir of the agent - Answer - where organism can survive but may or may not multiply (Humans,
animals, insects, food, environment: HepB on a hemodialysis machine, healthcare workers)
Portal of exit of the agent from the reservoir - Answer - provides a way for a microorganism to leave the
reservoir (respiratory: nose, mouth; GI: feces; skin; inanimate objects)
Mode of transmission of the agent - Answer - method of transfer by which the organism moves or is
carried from one place to another (hands, air/droplets, objects)
Portal of entry into host— - Answer - an opening allowing the microorganism to enter the host (mouth,
nose, indwelling devices, contaminated food/water, wounds
Susceptible host - Answer - microorganism invading the body, then multiplying, and resulting in
infection. The host is susceptible to the disease, lacking immunity of physical resistance to overcome the
invasion by the pathogenic micoorganism
Virulence - Answer - Ability to grow and multiply
Infectivity - Answer - Ability to enter tissues
Pathogenicity - Answer - Ability to cause disease
Duration of Exposure - Answer - Length of time the person is exposed to the organism
Size of Inoculum - Answer - The number of organisms needed to cause disease
Sensitivity: - Answer - a test to prove that a positive test is truly positive
, Specificity: - Answer - a test to prove that a negative test is truly negative
Biofilm - Answer - Attach to surfaces and can spread infection
•Contain cohabiting microorganisms which may be part of the host normal flora.
•Can form on living or non living surfaces
•Prevents water-soluble elements such as antibiotics and disinfectants from reaching pathogens
•Not culturable, necessitating newer nonculture lab techniques
Prophylactic: - Answer - antimicrobial given to prevent infection when there has been potential
exposure or when situation will involve potential risk for infection
Empiric - Answer - antimicrobial therapy (usually broad spectrum) initiated when no information about
the causative agent is known, patient sufficiently ill to warrant treatment before culture and sensitivity
tests are available or site of infection may indicate likely pathogen
Therapeutic - Answer - pathogen directed
A patient has VRE from a rectal swab but does not have any signs and symptoms of being sick. This
patient has a VRE _______. - Answer - Colonization
Which part of the chain of infection does a sneeze represent? - Answer - Mode of transmission of the
agent
What is the name for a substance that prevents water-soluble elements such as antibiotics and
disinfectants from reaching pathogens? - Answer - Biofilm
Type of germicidal action required for semi-critical
items: - Answer - Kills all microorganisms except high numbers of
bacterial spores
