Hospital induced infection acquired during the stay of a patient in hospital is called

Appeared in: UPPSC 2017

Explanation

A nosocomial infection, also known as a Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI), is defined as an infection acquired within a healthcare setting.
The defining characteristic is that the infection was not present or incubating at the time of the patient's admission.
According to guidelines, infections that manifest 48 hours or more after admission are typically considered nosocomial.
Common examples include catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), surgical site infections (SSI), and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

Option A: A localized infection describes the extent of an infection (confined to one area), not where it was acquired. A nosocomial infection can be localized or systemic.
Option C: A secondary infection is one that follows a primary infection, often due to a weakened immune system. It is not defined by the location of acquisition.
Option D: Reinfection refers to being infected with the same pathogen after recovering from a previous bout of the illness. It does not relate to where the infection was acquired.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Nosocomial Infections (Hospital-Acquired Infections) to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Nurses are central to HAI prevention through meticulous adherence to infection control protocols, including hand hygiene, using personal protective equipment (PPE), and applying aseptic techniques.
Early identification of HAIs through vigilant patient monitoring is a critical nursing responsibility that leads to prompt treatment and better outcomes.
Patient and family education on infection prevention measures, such as hand hygiene and recognizing signs of infection, is an important nursing function.

How to Approach the Question

This is a definition-based recall question.
First, identify the key phrase in the question stem: 'infection acquired during the stay of a patient in hospital'.
Next, evaluate each option to determine which term precisely matches this definition.
Recall or deduce that 'nosocomial' is the specific medical term for an infection originating in a hospital.
Eliminate the other options by defining them: 'localized' refers to location, 'secondary' refers to sequence after another infection, and 'reinfection' refers to a repeat infection by the same agent.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Nosocomial Infections (Hospital-Acquired Infections)
Stem keywords: Hospital induced infection, acquired during stay, patient in hospital
Lead-in keywords: is called

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart C (pp 404-604 of 604) p. 25-27

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 167-169

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