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 (69)
✍️ 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. Which disinfectant is the preferred choice for environmental surfaces contaminated with Clostridioides difficile spores?
EPA-registered sodium hypochlorite (bleach) is sporicidal and is the recommended disinfectant for C. difficile-contaminated environmental surfaces.
3. A biological indicator (BI) used in steam sterilization contains spores of which organism?
Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores are the standard biological indicator for steam sterilization because of their high heat resistance.
4. 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.
5. A healthcare facility is investigating a cluster of Aspergillus infections in an oncology unit. Construction is occurring two floors below. What is the most likely transmission route?
Aspergillus spores are airborne and can travel long distances through HVAC systems or negative-pressure stairwells from remote construction sites to immunocompromised patient units.
6. A sterile processing technician notices that a surgical instrument pouch has a compromised seal after sterilization. What is the correct response?
A compromised seal means the sterile barrier is breached; the item must be considered non-sterile and must be fully reprocessed before use.