Nosocomial infections are also termed:

Appeared in: AIIMS Raipur NO - 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

Nosocomial infections are defined as infections acquired within a hospital or other healthcare facility.
The term is used interchangeably with Hospital-Acquired Infection (HAI).
These infections are not present or incubating upon admission and typically manifest 48 hours or more after the patient is admitted.

Option B: An idiopathic infection is one for which the cause is unknown, which is different from a nosocomial infection where the origin is the healthcare environment.
Option C: A primary infection is the initial infection a person gets with a specific pathogen. A nosocomial infection can be a primary or a secondary infection.
Option D: An iatrogenic infection is specifically caused by a medical treatment or procedure. While it is often a type of nosocomial infection, not all nosocomial infections are iatrogenic (e.g., catching the flu from another patient). 'Hospital acquired' is the broader, more accurate synonym.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Definition and classification of nosocomial infections as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Preventing nosocomial infections is a fundamental responsibility of nurses and a key indicator of healthcare quality and patient safety.
Core nursing interventions to prevent HAIs include meticulous hand hygiene, strict adherence to aseptic technique for invasive procedures, and advocating for the timely removal of devices like catheters and central lines.
What if? If a patient develops a urinary tract infection 3 days after a urinary catheter was inserted in the hospital, it is classified as a CAUTI (a nosocomial infection). If the patient had symptoms of a UTI upon admission, it would be considered a community-acquired infection.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the key term in the question stem: 'Nosocomial infections'.
Recognize this as a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of medical terminology.
Recall the definition of 'nosocomial'. The root words relate to 'disease' and 'hospital' or 'to take care of'.
Evaluate the options to find the direct synonym. 'Hospital acquired infection' is the most accurate and commonly used equivalent.
Differentiate from similar terms like 'iatrogenic', which is more specific and refers to an infection caused by a procedure, not just the environment.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 167-169

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

Practise the full AIIMS Raipur NO - 2019 (Shift-1)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.