A-IPC Exam Study Questions and Answers
Pack | Verified | A+
• What does Prevalence of an infection measure? -✓✓how the disease might effect
the entire population of a given area.
• How do you calculate the incidence rate of an infection? -✓✓By dividing the
number of new cases of a disease found in a specific time interval by the number
of people at risk of being infected. ** It is important to remember that the number
of new cases should only be divided by the number of people who are capable of
contracting the disease to get an accurate measurement of only those at risk.**
• How is the Standardized Infection Ratio calculated? -✓✓By dividing the number
of observed infections by the number of predicted infections. **Ex: 15 known
infections with 10 predicted infections 15/10=1.5 infection ratio.**
• What does generating surveillance data require? -✓✓Using all available
resources to gather as much patient data as possible on a specified population,
including those who have been infected, those likely to be infected, and those
predicted to be infected.
• What is the mean value and how do you calculate it? -✓✓The mean value is the
average data point, and is calculated by adding all values together and then
dividing by the number of values present. **Ex: 32, 33, 38, 42, 43, 37; add all of
these numbers together and divide by 6 = mean of 37.5**
• What is the median value? -✓✓The middle value in a set of collected numbers.
• What is the mode value? -✓✓The most commonly collected numerical point.
• Define High Standard Deviation. -✓✓Data is widely spread out and far from the
mean.
• Define Standard Deviation/Low Variance. -✓✓Data is similar and closer to
average.
, • Who tracks foodborne and other enteric bacteria's resistance to antimicrobial
therapy? -✓✓The National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System for
Enteric Bacteria (NARMS)
• What defines an Outbreak? -✓✓When there is a sudden increase of infectious
disease cases over a relatively short amount of time, often originating from a
specific area.
• Why is it important to take organism incubation periods into consideration? -
✓✓These periods will determine the amount of symptom monitoring required.
• When are outbreaks communicated to the public? -✓✓When they have the
potential to cause substantial harm?
• What is the infection tracking system that provides data to healthcare facilities to
aid in prevention efforts and elimination of Healthcare-Associated Infections
(HAI)? -✓✓The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).
• Why is Active Surveillance Culture (ASC) testing performed? -✓✓to identify the
presence of microorganisms in a patient to determine if isolation precautions need
to be implemented or discontinued. **Ex: MRSA nasal swabs on all patients
admitted to Med-Surg Units.**
• What have scientific studies identified as the most common mode of pathogen
transmission? -✓✓Hands.
• What is a proven method of preventing infection and disease? -✓✓Proper hand
hygiene.
• PPE are selected based on what 3 factors? -✓✓1. the type of exposure
2. appropriateness for task
3. proper fit
• Proper PPE Donning Order: -✓✓1. Gown
2. Mask/Respirator
3. Goggles/Faceshield
4. Gloves
Pack | Verified | A+
• What does Prevalence of an infection measure? -✓✓how the disease might effect
the entire population of a given area.
• How do you calculate the incidence rate of an infection? -✓✓By dividing the
number of new cases of a disease found in a specific time interval by the number
of people at risk of being infected. ** It is important to remember that the number
of new cases should only be divided by the number of people who are capable of
contracting the disease to get an accurate measurement of only those at risk.**
• How is the Standardized Infection Ratio calculated? -✓✓By dividing the number
of observed infections by the number of predicted infections. **Ex: 15 known
infections with 10 predicted infections 15/10=1.5 infection ratio.**
• What does generating surveillance data require? -✓✓Using all available
resources to gather as much patient data as possible on a specified population,
including those who have been infected, those likely to be infected, and those
predicted to be infected.
• What is the mean value and how do you calculate it? -✓✓The mean value is the
average data point, and is calculated by adding all values together and then
dividing by the number of values present. **Ex: 32, 33, 38, 42, 43, 37; add all of
these numbers together and divide by 6 = mean of 37.5**
• What is the median value? -✓✓The middle value in a set of collected numbers.
• What is the mode value? -✓✓The most commonly collected numerical point.
• Define High Standard Deviation. -✓✓Data is widely spread out and far from the
mean.
• Define Standard Deviation/Low Variance. -✓✓Data is similar and closer to
average.
, • Who tracks foodborne and other enteric bacteria's resistance to antimicrobial
therapy? -✓✓The National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System for
Enteric Bacteria (NARMS)
• What defines an Outbreak? -✓✓When there is a sudden increase of infectious
disease cases over a relatively short amount of time, often originating from a
specific area.
• Why is it important to take organism incubation periods into consideration? -
✓✓These periods will determine the amount of symptom monitoring required.
• When are outbreaks communicated to the public? -✓✓When they have the
potential to cause substantial harm?
• What is the infection tracking system that provides data to healthcare facilities to
aid in prevention efforts and elimination of Healthcare-Associated Infections
(HAI)? -✓✓The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).
• Why is Active Surveillance Culture (ASC) testing performed? -✓✓to identify the
presence of microorganisms in a patient to determine if isolation precautions need
to be implemented or discontinued. **Ex: MRSA nasal swabs on all patients
admitted to Med-Surg Units.**
• What have scientific studies identified as the most common mode of pathogen
transmission? -✓✓Hands.
• What is a proven method of preventing infection and disease? -✓✓Proper hand
hygiene.
• PPE are selected based on what 3 factors? -✓✓1. the type of exposure
2. appropriateness for task
3. proper fit
• Proper PPE Donning Order: -✓✓1. Gown
2. Mask/Respirator
3. Goggles/Faceshield
4. Gloves
