CDC Infection Preventionist Post-Test (Latest 2025/2026
Edition) Questions and Answers
Section 1: Standard Precautions and Hand Hygiene (Questions 1-25)
1. Before performing wound care, if the hands are not visibly soiled, which method of hand
hygiene by staff members is preferred?
Correct Answer: Using an alcohol-based hand rub.
2. A nurse assistant is about to perform perineal care on an incontinent resident who wears
briefs. His supplies have already been gathered and placed on the clean bedside table. He
enters the room, dons non-sterile gloves, removes and discards the resident's soiled brief and
cleans the resident's perineum. He removes his soiled gloves and dons a new pair of non-sterile
gloves. He applies a clean brief. He discards his gloves and exits the room. How many times
should he have performed hand hygiene in this scenario?
Correct Answer: 3 times (before entering, after removing soiled gloves, and after discarding
clean gloves).
3. Standard Precautions apply when caring for which of the following residents?
Correct Answer: All residents, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status.
4. What is the most effective method for preventing the spread of healthcare-associated
infections (HAIs)?
Correct Answer: Hand hygiene.
Rationale: Hand hygiene disrupts transmission of pathogens at the most common point of
contact.
5. When hands are visibly soiled, what is the preferred hand hygiene method?
, Correct Answer: Washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
6. Which of the following is NOT a moment for hand hygiene according to CDC guidelines?
Correct Answer: After removing non-sterile gloves during routine care.
7. Alcohol-based hand rubs are ineffective against which pathogen?
Correct Answer: Clostridioides difficile spores.
8. How long should alcohol-based hand rub be applied to achieve proper disinfection?
Correct Answer: Until dry (typically 15-20 seconds).
9. In a multi-resident room, when should hand hygiene be performed between residents?
Correct Answer: Before and after contact with each resident.
10. What is the primary goal of Standard Precautions?
Correct Answer: To prevent transmission of bloodborne and body fluid pathogens.
11. Which surface should be cleaned first in a resident's room?
Correct Answer: High-touch surfaces like bed rails.
12. Safe injection practices include using a new needle for each injection. True or False?
Correct Answer: True.
13. What should be done with used sharps?
Correct Answer: Dispose in a puncture-resistant sharps container immediately.
, 14. Respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette includes covering the mouth/nose with a tissue when
coughing. What next?
Correct Answer: Dispose of the tissue and perform hand hygiene.
15. Which is an example of a critical medical device?
Correct Answer: Surgical instruments entering sterile tissue.
Rationale: Requires sterilization.
16. For semi-critical devices like endoscopes, what level of disinfection is required?
Correct Answer: High-level disinfection.
17. How often should hand hygiene compliance be monitored?
Correct Answer: Continuously, with regular audits.
18. What is the minimum duration for surgical hand scrub?
Correct Answer: 2-6 minutes, depending on the product.
19. Artificial nails are permitted in resident care areas if short. True or False?
Correct Answer: False; natural nails only, per CDC.
20. Which glove type is used for contact with blood?
Correct Answer: Powder-free nitrile or latex gloves.
21. Hand hygiene before donning gloves is required. True or False?
Correct Answer: True.
Edition) Questions and Answers
Section 1: Standard Precautions and Hand Hygiene (Questions 1-25)
1. Before performing wound care, if the hands are not visibly soiled, which method of hand
hygiene by staff members is preferred?
Correct Answer: Using an alcohol-based hand rub.
2. A nurse assistant is about to perform perineal care on an incontinent resident who wears
briefs. His supplies have already been gathered and placed on the clean bedside table. He
enters the room, dons non-sterile gloves, removes and discards the resident's soiled brief and
cleans the resident's perineum. He removes his soiled gloves and dons a new pair of non-sterile
gloves. He applies a clean brief. He discards his gloves and exits the room. How many times
should he have performed hand hygiene in this scenario?
Correct Answer: 3 times (before entering, after removing soiled gloves, and after discarding
clean gloves).
3. Standard Precautions apply when caring for which of the following residents?
Correct Answer: All residents, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status.
4. What is the most effective method for preventing the spread of healthcare-associated
infections (HAIs)?
Correct Answer: Hand hygiene.
Rationale: Hand hygiene disrupts transmission of pathogens at the most common point of
contact.
5. When hands are visibly soiled, what is the preferred hand hygiene method?
, Correct Answer: Washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
6. Which of the following is NOT a moment for hand hygiene according to CDC guidelines?
Correct Answer: After removing non-sterile gloves during routine care.
7. Alcohol-based hand rubs are ineffective against which pathogen?
Correct Answer: Clostridioides difficile spores.
8. How long should alcohol-based hand rub be applied to achieve proper disinfection?
Correct Answer: Until dry (typically 15-20 seconds).
9. In a multi-resident room, when should hand hygiene be performed between residents?
Correct Answer: Before and after contact with each resident.
10. What is the primary goal of Standard Precautions?
Correct Answer: To prevent transmission of bloodborne and body fluid pathogens.
11. Which surface should be cleaned first in a resident's room?
Correct Answer: High-touch surfaces like bed rails.
12. Safe injection practices include using a new needle for each injection. True or False?
Correct Answer: True.
13. What should be done with used sharps?
Correct Answer: Dispose in a puncture-resistant sharps container immediately.
, 14. Respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette includes covering the mouth/nose with a tissue when
coughing. What next?
Correct Answer: Dispose of the tissue and perform hand hygiene.
15. Which is an example of a critical medical device?
Correct Answer: Surgical instruments entering sterile tissue.
Rationale: Requires sterilization.
16. For semi-critical devices like endoscopes, what level of disinfection is required?
Correct Answer: High-level disinfection.
17. How often should hand hygiene compliance be monitored?
Correct Answer: Continuously, with regular audits.
18. What is the minimum duration for surgical hand scrub?
Correct Answer: 2-6 minutes, depending on the product.
19. Artificial nails are permitted in resident care areas if short. True or False?
Correct Answer: False; natural nails only, per CDC.
20. Which glove type is used for contact with blood?
Correct Answer: Powder-free nitrile or latex gloves.
21. Hand hygiene before donning gloves is required. True or False?
Correct Answer: True.
