Which of the following best defines a nosocomial infection?

• A. Infection acquired in a health care facility
• B. Infection acquired in community
• C. Infection present at birth
• D. Infection from foodborne source

Answer: (B)

A nosocomial infection is an infection acquired in a health care setting, such as a hospital or clinic. It refers to infections that develop during a stay or shortly after discharge, and are not present or incubating at the time of admission. This distinction matters because these infections often arise from procedures, devices (like catheters or ventilators), and exposure to other sick patients, and they’re a major target for infection-control practices.

It’s not a community-acquired infection, which occurs outside health care facilities; it’s not something present at birth, which would be congenital or perinatal; and it’s not typically a foodborne illness, which comes from contaminated food. Common examples include catheter-associated urinary tract infections, ventilator-associated pneumonias, and surgical-site infections, all of which highlight the need for strict hygiene and stewardship in health care settings.