1. Intermountain APIC Chapter CIC training questions
Certification study guide
6th edition
APIC

2. Q1:
Anaerobic cultures should be used for any of the following sites except:
a- Blood
b- Transtracheal aspirate
c- Spinal fluid
d- Sputum

3. Answer : d- Sputum (Ch3, P66, Q49)
An anaerobic bacteria culture is a method used to grow anaerobes from a clinical specimen. Anaerobes are commonly found on mucous membranes and other sites such as the vagina and oral cavity. Therefore, specimens likely to be contaminated with these organisms not be submitted for culture. Specimens that are not suitable for anaerobic cultures includes:
Sputum
Rectal swab
Nasal or throat swab
Urethral swab
Voided urine

4. Q2:
The incubation period for pertussis in immunocompetent persons is usually:
a days.
b days.
c days.
d days.

5. Answer: a days (Ch3, P55,Q8)
Pertussis ( whooping cough) is a highly communicable, acute, infectious respiratory disease caused by Bordetella pertussis. The incubation period of pertussis in immunocompetent patients is usually 7 to10 days, with a range of 6 to 21 days. In rare cases, the incubation period maybe as long as 42 days.

6. Q3:
All the following organisms can penetrate the intact epithelium of the conjunctiva or cornea except:
a- Staphylococcus aureus
b- Streptococcus pneumoniae
c- Neisseria meningitidis
d- Neisseria gonorrhoeae

7. Answer: a- Staphylococcus aureus ( Ch3, P61, Q27)
Healthcare-related ocular infections are rare but lead to catastrophic consequences such as compromised vision and/or blindness. Only few organisms can penetrate the intact epithelium of the conjunctiva or cornea, like Neisseria meningitidis and gonorrhoeae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes. For all others, a breach in the protective epithelial barrier or mucous membranes must occur.