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INFECTION SURVEILLANCE & ANTIBIOTIC
STEWARDSHIP NURSING ACTUAL PRACTICE
EXAM 2026-28 VERSION
Introduction
Infection surveillance and antibiotic stewardship are critical components of modern healthcare
systems aimed at reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), improving patient outcomes,
and combating antimicrobial resistance. Nurses play a vital role in identifying infection trends,
implementing infection prevention strategies, monitoring antibiotic use, and collaborating with
interdisciplinary teams to ensure responsible antimicrobial prescribing.
This Infection Surveillance & Antibiotic Stewardship Nursing Examination evaluates the nurse’s
ability to apply infection control principles, interpret surveillance data, identify appropriate
antimicrobial practices, and implement stewardship interventions in clinical settings.
The exam integrates clinical reasoning, epidemiology, microbiology, pharmacology, and
patient safety principles, reflecting competencies expected of nurses working in hospital
infection prevention programs and antimicrobial stewardship teams.
Exam Structure
Section Topic Area Number of Questions
Section I Principles of Infection Surveillance 20
Section II Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) 20
Section III Microbiology & Antibiotic Mechanisms 15
Section IV Antibiotic Stewardship Programs 20
Section V Clinical Case-Based Applications 25
Total 100 Questions
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Exam Format
• 100 Questions
• Multiple Choice (Single Best Answer)
• Scenario-Based Clinical Questions
• Select-All-That-Apply (SATA)
• Data Interpretation Questions
Time Limit: 2 Hours
Passing Benchmark: 70%
Instructions to Candidates
1. Carefully read each question before answering.
2. Some questions are clinical scenarios requiring application of knowledge rather than
recall.
3. For Select-All-That-Apply questions, choose every correct option.
4. Consider patient safety and infection control guidelines when answering.
5. Choose the most appropriate nursing action or interpretation.
Content Blueprint
Domain Competencies Tested
Infection Surveillance Data tracking, outbreak detection
Infection Prevention Standard & transmission-based precautions
Antimicrobial Stewardship Antibiotic selection, resistance prevention
Microbiology Pathogen identification
Clinical Decision Making Appropriate treatment and escalation
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Section I – Infection Surveillance Principles
Question 1
A hospital infection prevention nurse is reviewing surveillance
data and notices an increase in central line-associated
bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). What is the most appropriate
first step?
A. Notify public health authorities
B. Verify accuracy of surveillance data
C. Begin antibiotic prophylaxis hospital-wide
D. Close the affected unit
Answer: B
Rationale:
The first step in infection surveillance is confirming the accuracy
of collected data. Errors in documentation or case definition
may falsely indicate increased infection rates.
Question 2
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Which metric is commonly used to compare healthcare-
associated infection rates between hospitals?
A. Crude mortality rate
B. Standardized Infection Ratio (SIR)
C. Case fatality ratio
D. Basic reproduction number
Answer: B
Rationale:
The Standardized Infection Ratio (SIR) compares observed
infections to expected infections and allows benchmarking
across institutions.
Question 3
A nurse performing infection surveillance identifies several
postoperative wound infections occurring within the same
surgical unit over a two-week period. This pattern most likely
represents:
A. Endemic infection
B. Outbreak cluster
C. Sporadic infection
D. Community transmission
Answer: B
INFECTION SURVEILLANCE & ANTIBIOTIC
STEWARDSHIP NURSING ACTUAL PRACTICE
EXAM 2026-28 VERSION
Introduction
Infection surveillance and antibiotic stewardship are critical components of modern healthcare
systems aimed at reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), improving patient outcomes,
and combating antimicrobial resistance. Nurses play a vital role in identifying infection trends,
implementing infection prevention strategies, monitoring antibiotic use, and collaborating with
interdisciplinary teams to ensure responsible antimicrobial prescribing.
This Infection Surveillance & Antibiotic Stewardship Nursing Examination evaluates the nurse’s
ability to apply infection control principles, interpret surveillance data, identify appropriate
antimicrobial practices, and implement stewardship interventions in clinical settings.
The exam integrates clinical reasoning, epidemiology, microbiology, pharmacology, and
patient safety principles, reflecting competencies expected of nurses working in hospital
infection prevention programs and antimicrobial stewardship teams.
Exam Structure
Section Topic Area Number of Questions
Section I Principles of Infection Surveillance 20
Section II Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) 20
Section III Microbiology & Antibiotic Mechanisms 15
Section IV Antibiotic Stewardship Programs 20
Section V Clinical Case-Based Applications 25
Total 100 Questions
,2
Exam Format
• 100 Questions
• Multiple Choice (Single Best Answer)
• Scenario-Based Clinical Questions
• Select-All-That-Apply (SATA)
• Data Interpretation Questions
Time Limit: 2 Hours
Passing Benchmark: 70%
Instructions to Candidates
1. Carefully read each question before answering.
2. Some questions are clinical scenarios requiring application of knowledge rather than
recall.
3. For Select-All-That-Apply questions, choose every correct option.
4. Consider patient safety and infection control guidelines when answering.
5. Choose the most appropriate nursing action or interpretation.
Content Blueprint
Domain Competencies Tested
Infection Surveillance Data tracking, outbreak detection
Infection Prevention Standard & transmission-based precautions
Antimicrobial Stewardship Antibiotic selection, resistance prevention
Microbiology Pathogen identification
Clinical Decision Making Appropriate treatment and escalation
,3
Section I – Infection Surveillance Principles
Question 1
A hospital infection prevention nurse is reviewing surveillance
data and notices an increase in central line-associated
bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). What is the most appropriate
first step?
A. Notify public health authorities
B. Verify accuracy of surveillance data
C. Begin antibiotic prophylaxis hospital-wide
D. Close the affected unit
Answer: B
Rationale:
The first step in infection surveillance is confirming the accuracy
of collected data. Errors in documentation or case definition
may falsely indicate increased infection rates.
Question 2
, 4
Which metric is commonly used to compare healthcare-
associated infection rates between hospitals?
A. Crude mortality rate
B. Standardized Infection Ratio (SIR)
C. Case fatality ratio
D. Basic reproduction number
Answer: B
Rationale:
The Standardized Infection Ratio (SIR) compares observed
infections to expected infections and allows benchmarking
across institutions.
Question 3
A nurse performing infection surveillance identifies several
postoperative wound infections occurring within the same
surgical unit over a two-week period. This pattern most likely
represents:
A. Endemic infection
B. Outbreak cluster
C. Sporadic infection
D. Community transmission
Answer: B
