CBIC TEST PAPER 2026 STUDY GUIDE REVIEW
◉ Define aerosols.What are they most commonly produced by?
Answer: small particles less than 10 µm that can remain airborne
and viable for extended periods of time in the environment. Aerosols
are most commonly produced and generated by things like water
and air syringes.
◉ Define airborne transmission. Answer: the mode and means of
transmission for a pathogen that is airborne and then possibly
inhaled by the host as droplet nuclei.
◉ What is alcohol-based hand rub? Answer: an alcohol-containing
preparation designed for reducing the number of viable
microorganisms on the hands. These rubs are not a substitute for
good hand washing and they are only to be used when hand washing
facilities and materials are not available.
◉ What is an allergen? Answer: an antigen which can cause
hypersensitivity and an allergic reaction in the host. Hosts can have
sensitivity to medications, foods and other environmental sources
like toxins.
◉ Define allergic contact dermatitis. Give examples of things that
can cause it. Answer: swelling or irritation of the skin that results
,from contact with a chemical. It is often localized to the area of the
body that touched the contaminated item, which occurs slowly over
twelve to forty eight hours after direct contact. Some examples of
chemicals that can lead to allergic contact dermatitis include latex or
another component in gloves, as well as plants like poison ivy and
poison oak.
◉ What is anaphylaxis? What are the signs and symptoms? Answer:
a severe and life threatening allergic response that occurs during
exposure to an allergen like penicillin, latex in gloves and some
pollens. The signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis are hives, itching,
respiratory problems, anaphylactic shock, coma and in some cases,
death.
◉ What is the difference between the first and second dose of
anaphylaxis? Answer: The first exposure or dose is referred to as the
sensitizing exposure or dose the second exposure or dose is the one
that leads to anaphylaxis, or anaphylactic shock.
◉ Define antibodies. Answer: proteins in the blood produced as the
result of exposure to an antigen or pathogen. Antibodies bind to
antigens and destroy them.
◉ Define antigens. Answer: a protein or carbohydrate substance that
enters the body and activates the immune process by stimulating the
production of protective antibodies.
,◉ What is antiseptic? Give examples. Answer: a germicidal solution
that can be used to inhibit the growth of microorganisms, including
pathogens, or to destroy it. Some examples of antiseptics
hexachlorophene, iodine, alcohol and antiseptic hand washes.
◉ Define asepsis. What are the two types of asepsis? Answer: a
method used to prevent the spread of infection. The two types of
asepsis are medical asepsis, or clean procedure, and surgical/sterile
asepsis.
◉ What is bacterial count? What unit of measurement does it use?
Answer: an estimation of the number of organisms in a unit of
measurement. Bacterial counts are usually determined in terms of
colony-forming-units per square centimeter/ per milliliter.
◉ What is bio-burden? What is it also referred to as? Answer: the
number of viable microorganisms on a surface or an object prior to
decontamination and/ or sterilization. Bio-burden is also referred to
as microbiological load, microbial load and bio-load.
◉ What are biological indicators? Answer: devices used to monitor
the effectiveness of sterilization processes, in terms of whether
these processes effectively destroy microorganisms and spores.
, ◉ Define blood-borne pathogens and give examples. Answer:
disease-producing pathogens that are spread and transmitted to
others via contact with blood and other bodily fluids. Some
examples of blood-borne pathogens are HIV and hepatitis.
◉ What is the Blood-borne Pathogens Standard? Answer: a legal and
binding regulation mandates that all employers protect their staff
from occupational exposures to infectious agents and pathogens.
◉ What are chemical indicators? Answer: a device used to monitor
the effectiveness of sterilization processes in terms of whether these
processes meet the rigors of effectiveness. Chemical indicators
change their color or their form when they are exposed to
sterilization temperatures and pressures. These indicators, like
biological indicators, can alert personnel that there has been an
error or malfunction in terms of packaging, cleaning,
decontamination, sterilizer loading and a breakdown of the
equipment itself.
◉ What can chemical sterilants destroy? Answer: all
microorganisms and bacterial spores.
◉ Define cleaning. Answer: the physical, manual removal of visible
material from a device or surface using scrubbing, water, and a
detergent or a surfactant.
◉ Define aerosols.What are they most commonly produced by?
Answer: small particles less than 10 µm that can remain airborne
and viable for extended periods of time in the environment. Aerosols
are most commonly produced and generated by things like water
and air syringes.
◉ Define airborne transmission. Answer: the mode and means of
transmission for a pathogen that is airborne and then possibly
inhaled by the host as droplet nuclei.
◉ What is alcohol-based hand rub? Answer: an alcohol-containing
preparation designed for reducing the number of viable
microorganisms on the hands. These rubs are not a substitute for
good hand washing and they are only to be used when hand washing
facilities and materials are not available.
◉ What is an allergen? Answer: an antigen which can cause
hypersensitivity and an allergic reaction in the host. Hosts can have
sensitivity to medications, foods and other environmental sources
like toxins.
◉ Define allergic contact dermatitis. Give examples of things that
can cause it. Answer: swelling or irritation of the skin that results
,from contact with a chemical. It is often localized to the area of the
body that touched the contaminated item, which occurs slowly over
twelve to forty eight hours after direct contact. Some examples of
chemicals that can lead to allergic contact dermatitis include latex or
another component in gloves, as well as plants like poison ivy and
poison oak.
◉ What is anaphylaxis? What are the signs and symptoms? Answer:
a severe and life threatening allergic response that occurs during
exposure to an allergen like penicillin, latex in gloves and some
pollens. The signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis are hives, itching,
respiratory problems, anaphylactic shock, coma and in some cases,
death.
◉ What is the difference between the first and second dose of
anaphylaxis? Answer: The first exposure or dose is referred to as the
sensitizing exposure or dose the second exposure or dose is the one
that leads to anaphylaxis, or anaphylactic shock.
◉ Define antibodies. Answer: proteins in the blood produced as the
result of exposure to an antigen or pathogen. Antibodies bind to
antigens and destroy them.
◉ Define antigens. Answer: a protein or carbohydrate substance that
enters the body and activates the immune process by stimulating the
production of protective antibodies.
,◉ What is antiseptic? Give examples. Answer: a germicidal solution
that can be used to inhibit the growth of microorganisms, including
pathogens, or to destroy it. Some examples of antiseptics
hexachlorophene, iodine, alcohol and antiseptic hand washes.
◉ Define asepsis. What are the two types of asepsis? Answer: a
method used to prevent the spread of infection. The two types of
asepsis are medical asepsis, or clean procedure, and surgical/sterile
asepsis.
◉ What is bacterial count? What unit of measurement does it use?
Answer: an estimation of the number of organisms in a unit of
measurement. Bacterial counts are usually determined in terms of
colony-forming-units per square centimeter/ per milliliter.
◉ What is bio-burden? What is it also referred to as? Answer: the
number of viable microorganisms on a surface or an object prior to
decontamination and/ or sterilization. Bio-burden is also referred to
as microbiological load, microbial load and bio-load.
◉ What are biological indicators? Answer: devices used to monitor
the effectiveness of sterilization processes, in terms of whether
these processes effectively destroy microorganisms and spores.
, ◉ Define blood-borne pathogens and give examples. Answer:
disease-producing pathogens that are spread and transmitted to
others via contact with blood and other bodily fluids. Some
examples of blood-borne pathogens are HIV and hepatitis.
◉ What is the Blood-borne Pathogens Standard? Answer: a legal and
binding regulation mandates that all employers protect their staff
from occupational exposures to infectious agents and pathogens.
◉ What are chemical indicators? Answer: a device used to monitor
the effectiveness of sterilization processes in terms of whether these
processes meet the rigors of effectiveness. Chemical indicators
change their color or their form when they are exposed to
sterilization temperatures and pressures. These indicators, like
biological indicators, can alert personnel that there has been an
error or malfunction in terms of packaging, cleaning,
decontamination, sterilizer loading and a breakdown of the
equipment itself.
◉ What can chemical sterilants destroy? Answer: all
microorganisms and bacterial spores.
◉ Define cleaning. Answer: the physical, manual removal of visible
material from a device or surface using scrubbing, water, and a
detergent or a surfactant.
