Which term describes infections acquired in a hospital setting?

Which term describes infections acquired in a hospital setting?

• A. Kennel cough
• B. Viral infection
• C. Patient prep
• D. Nosocomial infection

Answer: (D)

Nosocomial infections are infections acquired during a hospital stay. They are defined as infections that were not present or incubating at the time of admission and arise from the hospital environment, procedures, or devices. Kennel cough is a disease commonly spread in kennels and not specific to hospital care. A viral infection describes the type of pathogen, not where it was acquired. Patient prep relates to preparing the patient for procedures and isn’t about infections. So, the best term for infections acquired in a hospital setting is nosocomial infection.

Nosocomial infections are infections acquired during a hospital stay. They are defined as infections that were not present or incubating at the time of admission and arise from the hospital environment, procedures, or devices. Kennel cough is a disease commonly spread in kennels and not specific to hospital care. A viral infection describes the type of pathogen, not where it was acquired. Patient prep relates to preparing the patient for procedures and isn’t about infections. So, the best term for infections acquired in a hospital setting is nosocomial infection.