What term describes infections acquired in a health care facility?

The term that describes infections acquired in a health care facility is nosocomial. Nosocomial infections are specifically associated with receiving treatment for medical or surgical conditions, and they can arise from a variety of sources within the health care environment, including surgical wounds, catheters, or ventilators. These infections are significant because they can complicate patient recovery and lead to increased morbidity and mortality, as well as escalating health care costs.

The focus of the term nosocomial is on the setting in which the infection was acquired, emphasizing that the origin is within the health care facility. This distinguishes them from infections that patients might acquire in the community or from other sources outside of a hospital setting.