Free CIC® Certification Examination Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the CIC® Certification Examination practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A patient has a positive TB blood test. What can the infection preventionist conclude from that result alone?

   1. A. The patient has confirmed pulmonary TB disease.
   2. B. The patient has TB infection, but disease needs further evaluation.
   3. C. The patient has drug-resistant TB disease.
   4. D. The patient has a negative sputum culture.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: CDC states, "A positive TB blood test result or TB skin test result usually means TB infection. More tests, such as a chest radiograph, are needed to rule out TB disease." Thus a positive blood test alone does not establish active disease.

   Reference: Clinical and Laboratory Diagnosis for Tuberculosis — Interpreting test results

2. 2A facility is designing an HAI surveillance system that combines reports from several units. Which design element supports consistent case identification?

   1. A. Use a standardized case definition across units.
   2. B. Let each unit redefine cases after results are known.
   3. C. Count only laboratory specimens without case criteria.
   4. D. Change case criteria whenever rates increase.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: CDC lists "standardized definitions" as an essential element of surveillance. Common criteria make case finding comparable across units.

   Reference: II. Fundamental Elements Needed to Prevent Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings — II.B Surveillance for Healthcare-Associated Infections

3. 3A facility revises its infection prevention policy after new evidence-based guidance is issued. Which policy feature aligns with CDC core practices?

   1. A. A current written procedure grounded in evidence-based guidance
   2. B. An unwritten custom maintained despite changed guidance
   3. C. A policy based only on the oldest available practice
   4. D. A procedure withheld from personnel performing the task

   Answer: A

   Explanation: CDC calls for "written infection prevention policies and procedures that are available, current, and based on evidence-based guidelines." Updating the document follows that direction.

   Reference: CDC's Core Infection Prevention and Control Practices for Safe Healthcare Delivery in All Settings — Core Practices Table, 2. Education and Training

4. 4Before a healthcare worker starts a new role, what information should occupational health review to tailor infection-risk screening?

   1. A. The job description and duties that may affect acquiring or transmitting infection
   2. B. Only the employee's preferred work schedule
   3. C. Only the facility-wide average sick-leave rate
   4. D. Only the worker's prior performance review

   Answer: A

   Explanation: CDC directs occupational health to "Review each employee’s job description for duties that may affect risk of acquiring or transmitting infections in healthcare settings." The role's actual exposure and transmission opportunities guide preplacement evaluation.

   Reference: CDC Medical Evaluations for Healthcare Personnel — Recommendations 4.c.1

5. 5Who should be accountable for the success of infection prevention activities in a healthcare facility?

   1. A. The facility's governing body
   2. B. Only the individual collecting surveillance data
   3. C. Only an external laboratory
   4. D. Only the purchasing department

   Answer: A

   Explanation: CDC directs facilities to "Ensure that the governing body of the healthcare facility or organization is accountable for the success of infection prevention activities." This is program-level accountability.

   Reference: CDC Core Infection Prevention and Control Practices — 1. Leadership Support

6. 6An infection preventionist is asked to create training for a drop in safe-injection adherence. What should be determined before deciding training is the solution?

   1. A. Whether the gap reflects knowledge or skill and what causes it
   2. B. Which slide template is easiest to reuse
   3. C. How many certificates can be issued
   4. D. Which room is available for a lecture

   Answer: A

   Explanation: CDC explains that "A needs assessment identifies gaps in knowledge or skills within the workforce, and helps you determine if training is necessary." The cause of the performance gap should guide the educational plan.

   Reference: CDC Assess Training Needs: Conducting Needs Analysis — What to know

7. 7What is the main prevention purpose of a healthcare-facility water management program?

   1. A. Identify hazardous water conditions and corrective actions to limit pathogen growth
   2. B. Catalog water test results without defining corrective actions for hazards
   3. C. Track corrective actions without first identifying hazardous conditions
   4. D. Focus on municipal supply status without evaluating the facility water system

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The controlling guidance states, "identifies both hazardous conditions and corrective actions that can minimize the growth and spread of waterborne pathogens in healthcare facilities." Option A applies the cited condition; each other option omits or misapplies a distinct part of that condition.

   Reference: CDC Considerations for Reducing Risk: Water in Healthcare Facilities — Summary of considerations > Maintain a water management program

8. 8A reusable surgical instrument enters normally sterile tissue. What processing is required before use on the next patient?

   1. A. Low-level disinfection
   2. B. High-level disinfection only
   3. C. Sterilization
   4. D. Detergent cleaning only

   Answer: C

   Explanation: CDC recommends, "Before use on each patient, sterilize critical medical and surgical devices and instruments that enter normally sterile tissue or the vascular system or through which a sterile body fluid flows (e.g., blood)." Thus sterilization fits the device contact or use condition in the question.

   Reference: CDC Recommendations for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities — Recommendation 3.a, Indications for Sterilization and Disinfection

9. 9How should an abnormal chest radiograph be interpreted when evaluating possible pulmonary TB disease?

   1. A. It confirms TB disease without laboratory testing.
   2. B. It excludes TB disease when a skin test is positive.
   3. C. It may suggest TB disease but is not definitive by itself.
   4. D. It identifies the drug susceptibility pattern.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: CDC says, "These abnormalities may suggest TB disease but cannot be used to definitively diagnose TB disease." Radiographic findings contribute to evaluation but do not establish the diagnosis alone.

   Reference: Clinical and Laboratory Diagnosis for Tuberculosis — 4. Chest radiograph

10. 10A new surveillance plan must choose which patient groups to monitor closely. Which design choice follows CDC's essential elements?

    1. A. Identify patient populations at risk for infection.
    2. B. Select patients solely by room number.
    3. C. Include only patients with completed treatment.
    4. D. Exclude patients with device exposure.

    Answer: A

    Explanation: CDC lists "identification of patient populations at risk for infection" as an essential surveillance element. Risk helps define the monitored population.

    Reference: II. Fundamental Elements Needed to Prevent Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings — II.B Surveillance for Healthcare-Associated Infections