CIC Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the CIC exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 CIC Exam Format at a Glance
📚 CIC Topics to Study (21)
✍️ Sample CIC Questions & Answers
1. According to CDC/WHO guidelines, what is the minimum recommended duration for alcohol-based hand rub application?
Hand rub must be applied for 20–30 seconds until hands are dry to achieve adequate antimicrobial efficacy.
2. What is the recommended timing for surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis administration to reduce SSI risk?
Prophylactic antibiotics should be administered within 60 minutes before the surgical incision to achieve adequate tissue levels at the time of the procedure.
3. When donning an N95 filtering facepiece respirator, what is the final step before entering an Airborne Infection Isolation room?
A user seal check (positive or negative pressure) must be performed after donning to verify an adequate seal before exposure to airborne pathogens.
4. Which is the primary central line insertion bundle element for CLABSI prevention?
Maximal sterile barrier precautions—cap, mask, sterile gown, sterile gloves, and large sterile drape—during CVC insertion are a core evidence-based CLABSI bundle element.
5. A patient with influenza sneezes, and another individual standing two feet away inhales the infectious particles. This represents which mode of transmission in the chain of infection?
Droplet transmission occurs when respiratory droplets carrying infectious pathogens are generated from a source person (e.g., through coughing or sneezing) and are propelled a short distance through the air and deposited on the mucous membranes of a nearby person. This is distinct from airborne transmission, where smaller droplet nuclei can remain suspended in the air for longer periods and travel longer distances.
6. Regarding biofilms, which are frequently seen in dental unit waterlines, which of the following statements is true?
When a dental unit is stagnant, bacteria and other microorganisms known as biofilms can form in the waterlines. These biofilms can be dangerous. Dental offices are mandated to maintain biofilm levels at less than 500 colony forming units (i.e., the unit of measurement used for this type of biofilm) in order to prevent infections. Biofilms can still be harmful and infectious even at these concentrations, especially in people with weakened immune systems. Because dental healthcare professionals often have good immune systems and are not exposed to biofilms, there is little chance of a serious infection or sickness.