What describes a nosocomial infection?

• A. Infection acquired in a hospital
• B. Infection acquired in the community
• C. Infection transmitted through food
• D. Infection from environmental exposure

Answer: (A)

In a hospital or health care setting, an infection that a patient develops while receiving care there, and which was not present or incubating at the time of admission, is called a nosocomial infection. It’s usually recognized after about 48 hours of hospitalization. That’s why the correct description is infection acquired in a hospital.

This definition distinguishes nosocomial infections from infections acquired in the community, from foodborne illnesses, or from environmental exposures, which do not involve the hospital or health care setting. In practice, preventing these infections hinges on strict hand hygiene, proper equipment sterilization, and adherence to infection-control precautions throughout patient care.