PCI ISA Exam Practice Questions &
Answers 100 Practice Questions with Correct
Answers & Rationales | 2025/2026 Update
Domain Questions Key Topics
Infection Control Hand hygiene, PPE, isolation precautions,
1–34
Fundamentals sterilization, disinfection, biohazard levels
OSHA standards, needlestick prevention,
Occupational Health
35–67 vaccine requirements, exposure control,
& Safety
worker safety
Environmental cleaning, waste management,
Environmental
35–67 air quality, equipment cleaning, hazardous
Controls
waste
Surveillance & HAI metrics, outbreak investigation,
68–100
Epidemiology surveillance methods, antimicrobial resistance
Emergency Disaster planning, communication,
85, 100
Preparedness evacuation, resource allocation
Advanced Infectious 71, 79, 87, Anthrax, smallpox, Ebola, Zika, specialized
Diseases 95 isolation requirements
Regulatory 19, 35, 41, CDC, OSHA, APIC, EPA standards and
Compliance 61 accreditation
1. Which organization sets the national standards for infection prevention and
control in healthcare facilities in the United States?
A. World Health Organization (WHO)
B. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
C. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
D. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The CDC's Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee
,(HICPAC) sets national standards for infection prevention and control in
healthcare facilities through evidence-based guidelines.
2. What is the MOST important intervention to prevent healthcare-associated
infections (HAIs)?
A. Proper use of antimicrobial agents
B. Hand hygiene
C. Environmental cleaning
D. Patient isolation
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most important intervention to prevent HAIs
according to CDC guidelines; it reduces transmission of pathogens between
patients and healthcare workers.
3. Which level of biohazard safety is required for handling unknown
pathogens with high potential for aerosol transmission and no known
treatment?
A. BSL-1 (Biosafety Level 1)
B. BSL-2 (Biosafety Level 2)
C. BSL-3 (Biosafety Level 3)
D. BSL-4 (Biosafety Level 4)
Correct answer: D
Rationale: BSL-4 is required for unknown pathogens with high aerosol
transmission potential and no treatment (e.g., Ebola, Marburg); requires maximum
containment with positive-pressure suits.
4. A patient with active tuberculosis (TB) is admitted. Which type of isolation
precaution is required?
A. Contact isolation
B. Droplet isolation
C. Airborne isolation
D. Protective isolation
,Correct answer: C
Rationale: Tuberculosis requires airborne isolation (negative-pressure room, N95
respirator) because TB is transmitted via small aerosolized particles that remain
infectious in air.
5. Which hand hygiene method is MOST appropriate when hands are visibly
soiled?
A. Alcohol-based hand rub
B. Soap and water
C. Antimicrobial wipe
D. Chlorhexidine solution
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Soap and water is required when hands are visibly soiled because
alcohol-based rubs cannot effectively clean visible dirt, blood, or bodily fluids.
6. What is the recommended duration for handwashing with soap and water?
A. 5 seconds
B. 10 seconds
C. 15–30 seconds
D. 60 seconds
Correct answer: C
Rationale: CDC recommends 15–30 seconds of handwashing with soap and water
to effectively remove pathogens; alcohol-based rubs require 20–30 seconds.
7. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is REQUIRED for caring for a
patient with Contact Precautions (e.g., MRSA, VRE)?
A. Gown and gloves
B. Gown, gloves, and mask
C. Gown, gloves, and N95 respirator
D. Gloves only
, Correct answer: A
Rationale: Contact Precautions require gown and gloves to prevent transmission
of organisms spread by direct contact (MRSA, VRE, C. diff); mask is not required
unless splashing expected.
8. A healthcare worker experiences a needlestick injury. What is the FIRST
action they should take?
A. Report the incident to supervisor
B. Wash the site with soap and water
C. Seek immediate medical evaluation
D. Complete incident documentation
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Immediate washing with soap and water is the FIRST action to reduce
pathogen transmission; then report, seek evaluation, and document.
9. Which organism is MOST resistant to standard disinfection methods?
A. Staphylococcus aureus
B. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
C. Clostridium difficile
D. Escherichia coli
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Clostridium difficile spores are highly resistant to standard
disinfectants; requires chlorine-based disinfectants (e.g., bleach) for effective
elimination.
10. What is the PRIMARY purpose of an Environmental Safety Program in
healthcare?
A. Reduce healthcare costs
B. Prevent workplace injuries and illnesses
C. Improve patient satisfaction
D. Increase staff productivity
Answers 100 Practice Questions with Correct
Answers & Rationales | 2025/2026 Update
Domain Questions Key Topics
Infection Control Hand hygiene, PPE, isolation precautions,
1–34
Fundamentals sterilization, disinfection, biohazard levels
OSHA standards, needlestick prevention,
Occupational Health
35–67 vaccine requirements, exposure control,
& Safety
worker safety
Environmental cleaning, waste management,
Environmental
35–67 air quality, equipment cleaning, hazardous
Controls
waste
Surveillance & HAI metrics, outbreak investigation,
68–100
Epidemiology surveillance methods, antimicrobial resistance
Emergency Disaster planning, communication,
85, 100
Preparedness evacuation, resource allocation
Advanced Infectious 71, 79, 87, Anthrax, smallpox, Ebola, Zika, specialized
Diseases 95 isolation requirements
Regulatory 19, 35, 41, CDC, OSHA, APIC, EPA standards and
Compliance 61 accreditation
1. Which organization sets the national standards for infection prevention and
control in healthcare facilities in the United States?
A. World Health Organization (WHO)
B. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
C. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
D. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The CDC's Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee
,(HICPAC) sets national standards for infection prevention and control in
healthcare facilities through evidence-based guidelines.
2. What is the MOST important intervention to prevent healthcare-associated
infections (HAIs)?
A. Proper use of antimicrobial agents
B. Hand hygiene
C. Environmental cleaning
D. Patient isolation
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most important intervention to prevent HAIs
according to CDC guidelines; it reduces transmission of pathogens between
patients and healthcare workers.
3. Which level of biohazard safety is required for handling unknown
pathogens with high potential for aerosol transmission and no known
treatment?
A. BSL-1 (Biosafety Level 1)
B. BSL-2 (Biosafety Level 2)
C. BSL-3 (Biosafety Level 3)
D. BSL-4 (Biosafety Level 4)
Correct answer: D
Rationale: BSL-4 is required for unknown pathogens with high aerosol
transmission potential and no treatment (e.g., Ebola, Marburg); requires maximum
containment with positive-pressure suits.
4. A patient with active tuberculosis (TB) is admitted. Which type of isolation
precaution is required?
A. Contact isolation
B. Droplet isolation
C. Airborne isolation
D. Protective isolation
,Correct answer: C
Rationale: Tuberculosis requires airborne isolation (negative-pressure room, N95
respirator) because TB is transmitted via small aerosolized particles that remain
infectious in air.
5. Which hand hygiene method is MOST appropriate when hands are visibly
soiled?
A. Alcohol-based hand rub
B. Soap and water
C. Antimicrobial wipe
D. Chlorhexidine solution
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Soap and water is required when hands are visibly soiled because
alcohol-based rubs cannot effectively clean visible dirt, blood, or bodily fluids.
6. What is the recommended duration for handwashing with soap and water?
A. 5 seconds
B. 10 seconds
C. 15–30 seconds
D. 60 seconds
Correct answer: C
Rationale: CDC recommends 15–30 seconds of handwashing with soap and water
to effectively remove pathogens; alcohol-based rubs require 20–30 seconds.
7. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is REQUIRED for caring for a
patient with Contact Precautions (e.g., MRSA, VRE)?
A. Gown and gloves
B. Gown, gloves, and mask
C. Gown, gloves, and N95 respirator
D. Gloves only
, Correct answer: A
Rationale: Contact Precautions require gown and gloves to prevent transmission
of organisms spread by direct contact (MRSA, VRE, C. diff); mask is not required
unless splashing expected.
8. A healthcare worker experiences a needlestick injury. What is the FIRST
action they should take?
A. Report the incident to supervisor
B. Wash the site with soap and water
C. Seek immediate medical evaluation
D. Complete incident documentation
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Immediate washing with soap and water is the FIRST action to reduce
pathogen transmission; then report, seek evaluation, and document.
9. Which organism is MOST resistant to standard disinfection methods?
A. Staphylococcus aureus
B. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
C. Clostridium difficile
D. Escherichia coli
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Clostridium difficile spores are highly resistant to standard
disinfectants; requires chlorine-based disinfectants (e.g., bleach) for effective
elimination.
10. What is the PRIMARY purpose of an Environmental Safety Program in
healthcare?
A. Reduce healthcare costs
B. Prevent workplace injuries and illnesses
C. Improve patient satisfaction
D. Increase staff productivity
