Hospital-acquired infection

Hospital-acquired infection (IPA: /ˌhɒspɪtəl əˈkwaɪəd ɪnˈfɛkʃən/), also known as nosocomial infection (IPA: /ˌnoʊsəˈkoʊmiəl ɪnˈfɛkʃən/), is an infection that is contracted from the environment or staff of a hospital. It can occur in a patient during the process of care in a hospital or other healthcare facility.

Etymology

The term "hospital-acquired infection" is self-explanatory, referring to an infection acquired in a hospital. The term "nosocomial" comes from two Greek words: "nosus" meaning "disease" and "komeion" meaning "to take care of". Hence, "nosocomial" should apply to any disease contracted by a patient while under medical care.

Related Terms

Healthcare-associated infection (HAI): This is a broader term that includes not only infections acquired in hospital settings but also in other health care settings such as nursing homes and rehabilitation centers.

Pathogen: A bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease.

Antibiotic resistance: The ability of bacteria and other microorganisms to resist the effects of an antibiotic to which they were once sensitive.

Infection control: The discipline concerned with preventing healthcare-associated infections; it is an essential part of the infrastructure of health care.

Epidemiology: The study and analysis of the distribution, patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in defined populations.

Immunocompromised: A state in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease and cancer is compromised or entirely absent.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Hospital-acquired infection
Wikipedia's article - Hospital-acquired infection

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Hospital-acquired infection