Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC) Practice Exam 2025 – Your All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

Cleaning the site with water before swabbing the center of a wound is essential for a few key reasons. The primary aim is to minimize the presence of contaminants that could alter the results of the swab. By using water or a sterile saline solution to gently cleanse the area, any debris, exudate, or microorganisms present on the surface of the wound are removed. This helps to ensure that the swab culture reflects the true microbiological state of the wound rather than artifacts or external contaminants.

Inspecting the wound, while important for assessing its condition and for clinical decision-making, is typically done after cleaning to avoid introducing any additional pathogens. Applying antibiotics prior to swabbing could interfere with the culture results, as it may kill microorganisms present, preventing accurate identification of the wound flora. Finally, covering the wound with a dressing is a post-sampling action and does not contribute to preparing the site for swabbing.