Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC) Practice Exam 2025 - Free CIC Practice Questions and Study Guide

Individuals with underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, are at a significantly higher risk for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). In this scenario, the 53-year-old diabetic patient undergoing herniorraphy represents a combination of factors that heighten this risk. Diabetes can compromise the immune system, impair wound healing, and increase the likelihood of complications from surgery.

Surgical procedures inherently involve breaking the skin barrier, which can introduce pathogens and lead to infections, particularly in patients who already have conditions that decrease their immune response. For example, a diabetic patient may experience prolonged post-operative healing and an increased incidence of post-surgical infections, including surgical site infections.

In contrast, the other patients in the options may have different health statuses or the nature of their conditions that typically place them at a lower risk. For instance, younger patients or those undergoing elective procedures with no significant underlying health problems (like gastroenteritis or a leg fracture) generally face a lesser risk for HAIs compared to those with chronic conditions requiring surgical interventions.