Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC) Practice Exam

A high neutrophil count is primarily indicative of a bacterial infection. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that play a crucial role in the immune response, particularly in fighting off infections caused by bacteria. When the body detects a bacterial infection, the bone marrow produces more neutrophils and releases them into the bloodstream. This increase in neutrophils is part of the body's natural defense mechanism, as these cells are essential for phagocytosing (engulfing and digesting) bacteria and preventing the spread of the infection.

In contrast, viral infections often lead to increased lymphocyte counts rather than neutrophils. Fungal infections can also impact white blood cell counts, but they typically result in different patterns of immune response that do not correlate with high neutrophil levels. Parasitic infections can cause various responses depending on the type of parasite, but they often lead to elevated levels of eosinophils rather than neutrophils. Therefore, a high neutrophil count is specifically associated with bacterial infections, making this the correct conclusion regarding the type of infection indicated.