CIC Exam Dumps : CBIC Certified Infection Control Exam

The Certification Study Guide (6th edition) outlines the critical role of the infection preventionist (IP) in emergency preparedness and response, particularly when healthcare systems activate alternate or alternative care sites during mass casualty incidents or public health emergencies. In these situations, the IP’s primary responsibility is to determine the infection prevention and control requirements necessary to safely provide direct patient care in nontraditional settings.

Alternate care sites often lack the infrastructure of acute care hospitals, such as standard ventilation, hand hygiene facilities, isolation rooms, or routine environmental services. The study guide emphasizes that infection preventionists must assess risks related to patient placement, cohorting, isolation precautions, environmental cleaning, waste management, water safety, and availability of personal protective equipment. These determinations directly influence whether patient care can be delivered safely and sustainably under emergency conditions.

The other options fall outside the IP’s primary scope. Decisions about optimal medical care and staffing models are led by clinical and administrative leadership. “Measures to keep all individuals healthy” is overly broad and does not reflect the IP’s focused, operational role during emergency site activation.

CIC exam questions frequently test understanding of role delineation during emergency management. The infection preventionist’s expertise is best applied to defining infection control standards and requirements that enable safe direct patient care—making option D the most accurate and appropriate answer.

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) colonization is most commonly found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Therefore, rectal or peri-rectal cultures are recommended for active surveillance screening.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect?

B. Nares or axillary cultures – CRE is not primarily found in the nasal or axillary region; this method is more relevant for detecting MRSA.

C. Abscess or blood cultures – While CRE may be present in clinical infections, these cultures are not used for screening asymptomatic carriers.

D. Throat or nasopharyngeal cultures – CRE does not commonly colonize the upper respiratory tract, so these are not ideal for active screening.

CBIC Infection Control Reference

The CDC and APIC guidelines emphasize rectal or peri-rectal swabbing as the most effective active surveillance method for CRE detection​.

The incidence rate is calculated using the formula:

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect?

B. (30 ÷ 150,000) × 100 = X – Incorrect multiplier (should be 100,000 for standard incidence rate).

C. (115 ÷ 150,000) × 100,000 = X – 115 represents total cases (prevalence), not incidence.

D. (115 ÷ 100,000) × 100 = X – Uses the wrong denominator and multiplier.

CBIC Infection Control Reference

APIC defines the incidence rate as the number of new cases per population unit, typically per 100,000 people​.