What is an infection acquired during hospitalization called?

Appeared in: Bihar CHO - 2021

Explanation

A nosocomial infection is the correct medical term for an infection acquired within a hospital or other healthcare facility.
This type of infection is specifically defined as one that was not present or in the incubation period upon the patient's admission.
Symptoms of a nosocomial infection typically manifest 48 hours or more after admission.
It is also commonly referred to as a Hospital-Acquired Infection (HAI).

Option B: This term describes the location of the infection (the respiratory system), not the setting where it was acquired. A respiratory infection can be community-acquired or hospital-acquired.
Option C: This is a specific subtype of a nosocomial infection. It refers only to infections that occur at the site of a surgical incision.
Option D: This term describes an infection caused by a medical intervention or treatment. While many nosocomial infections are iatrogenic (e.g., from a catheter), not all are. The term 'nosocomial' refers to the location (hospital), while 'iatrogenic' refers to the cause (treatment).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Terminology for hospital-acquired infections helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses are at the forefront of preventing nosocomial infections through meticulous practices like hand hygiene, aseptic techniques for procedures, and proper management of invasive devices.
Failure to prevent HAIs leads to increased patient morbidity and mortality, longer hospital stays, and higher healthcare costs.
What if? If a patient is admitted with a fever and cough and is diagnosed with pneumonia on the first day, it is considered a community-acquired infection, not nosocomial, because it was present at the time of admission.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of medical terminology.
First, identify the key terms in the question: 'infection', 'acquired during', and 'hospitalization'.
Analyze each option to see which one best fits the definition derived from the keywords.
Recall the specific definition of 'nosocomial' as originating in a hospital.
Differentiate this general term from the other options, which are either subtypes (surgical site infection), related but distinct concepts (iatrogenic), or descriptive of location rather than origin (respiratory infection).

Concept Tested & Keywords

QCfU08JwhlIhJAO3BkzGrG

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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