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A person will not have this infection during their admission, but they may acquire it in various healthcare settings, such as hospitals, ambulances, and long-term care facilities. Share on PinterestPhil Fisk/Getty ImagesNosocomial infections have different symptoms, diagnoses, treatments, and potential complications. Common types of this infection include:pneumoniaurinary tract infections (UTIs)gastrointestinal infections This article looks at nosocomial infections in more detail, how they occur, and the types of infections. We also look at risk factors, prevention, and the outlook for these infections. What is a nosocomial infection and how does it occur Doctors also refer to nosocomial infections as healthcare-associated infections (HAI) and hospital-acquired infections. They are infections that people acquire while receiving healthcare, after admission. The infection can occur when a pathogen — an organism that can cause disease — spreads to a susceptible host. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some of the many invasive procedures and devices involved in modern healthcare can contribute to the spread of infection. These techniques and devices include:ventilatorscatheterssurgeryprosthetic implantsimplanted medical devices Causes The causes of nosocomial infections vary. They depend on the type or source of infection, the pathogen that caused it, and whether the infection is viral, fungal, or bacterial. Nosocomial infections affect 3.2% of all hospitalized patients in the United States. Antibiotic and multidrug-resistant organisms have led to further complications and greater numbers of these infections. Because of this, there has been a major effort to detect and control them with infection prevention and control programs. Types of nosocomial infections include:central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI)catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI)surgical site infections (SSI)ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)bacterialfungalviralgastrointestinal Central line-associated bloodstream infections CLABSI A central line, or a central venous catheter, is a tube or catheter to administer fluids or medication or collect blood for specific medical tests. Doctors typically place it in a large vein in the:chestneckgroin Doctors most often use central lines in intensive care units (ICUs). They access a major vein close to the heart and can remain in place for weeks to months. This means they are more likely to cause a serious infection than other types of intravenous catheters, such as IVs. A CLABSI is a serious infection that can occur when pathogens, such as viruses or bacteria, enter the bloodstream through the catheter. Symptoms The symptoms of a CLABSI vary depending on the type of infection that has entered through the catheter. Someone showing signs of infection requires immediate medical intervention. These include:at the site of the catheter:paindiscomfortrednessdischargefever and chillssigns of inflammation Diagnosis and treatment To diagnose CLABSI, a doctor will perform blood tests and check for signs of infection at the site of the catheter insertion and inflammation beyond the insertion site. To treat CLABSI, a doctor typically removes the catheter and administers antibiotics. They may also prescribe other appropriate medications, such as antifungal medication, depending on the type of infection. Healthcare professionals may also recommend topical or systemic antimicrobials to treat the area where the catheter enters the body. Potential complications CLABSI is serious and can be fatal. The infection can cause severe sickness and increase a person’s time in the hospital. CLABSI may also lead to sepsis, an extreme response by the immune system to infection, which can damage organs and may be life threatening. Catheter-associated urinary tract infections CAUTI CAUTI is a UTI a person may acquire after a doctor inserts a urinary catheter. Pathogens can travel along the catheter and enter the urinary tract. The bacterium Escherichia coli is the most common cause of CAUTI. Symptoms Symptoms of a UTI include:feverblood in urinepain or burning in the lower abdomenincreased frequency of urinationa burning feeling during urination Diagnosis and treatment A doctor will diagnose CAUTI by administering a urine test. To treat it, they will remove or change the catheter and administer antibiotics. Potential complications Possible complications of CAUTI include:sepsisbacteremia, a bacterial infection of the bloodupper urinary tract infection Surgical site infections SSI An SSI is an infection that occurs in the part of the body where the surgery took place. The infection can be superficial and only affect the skin, or it can be more severe and affect:organstissuesskinsurgically implanted material Symptoms Symptoms of SSI include:feverdrainage of cloudy fluid from the woundpain and redness around the area of surgery Diagnosis and treatment A doctor will look for visible signs of infection and perform blood tests to diagnose SSI. To treat it, they will prescribe antibiotics. A person may also require further surgery to treat the infection. Potential complications SSIs can lead to life threatening conditions, such as sepsis, as well as:delayed healing of woundsabscessesthe rejection of medical devices or prostheticsinfections in body cavities Ventilator-associated pneumonia VAP VAP can occur when a person inhales contaminated material through a ventilator. Pathogens that travel through the ventilator can cause pneumonia after 48 hours of intubation. Of people requiring manual ventilation, 5–15% develop VAP. Symptoms Symptoms of VAP include:tracheal discharge containing pusfeverdifficulty breathing Diagnosis and treatment A doctor may diagnose VAP using:visible signs of infectionchest X-rayssamples of secretions from the lower respiratory tractblood testsbiopsy Doctors typically treat VAP with antibiotics. Potential complications Complications of VAP include:multi-organ failuredeep vein thrombosisstress ulcerssepsis Bacterial A person may acquire a bacterial infection during healthcare. These include:Staphylococcus aureus:This bacterium, which people often call staph, is typically present inside the nose and on the skin of about 30% of people. It does not usually cause harm, and infections can appear as skin conditions.Streptococcus species: This bacterium can cause several infections, including:sore throattoxic shock syndromepneumoniaEnterococcus species: This bacterium is the leading cause of nosocomial infections in healthcare settings and is resistant to antibiotics. It is most associated with the following types of infections:UTIsmedical device infectionssoft tissue Symptoms Symptoms vary depending on the type of bacteria and infection that affect a patient. They may include:a rashsore, red throatskin infectionsymptoms of pneumonia, such as cough, difficulty breathing, and rapid heartbeatsymptoms of UTI, such as a burning sensation when urinating or needing to urinate more oftensymptoms of toxic shock syndrome, such as fever, diarrhea, and dizziness Diagnosis and treatment A doctor typically diagnoses bacterial infections by examining a person’s physical symptoms and blood tests. Antibiotics are generally effective treatments against bacterial infections. A doctor may use different types to treat different infections. Potential complications Complications of bacterial infections include:sepsispneumoniaendocarditis, a rare condition that involves inflammation of the heart’s lining, muscles, and valvesosteomyelitis, an infection and inflammation of the bone Other infections Nosocomial infections may also be:Fungal: Mold infections and candidiasis are common causes of nosocomial infections. They most often lead to UTIs and bloodstream infections. Experts often associate them with:a contaminated environmentimmunosuppressionunclean cathetersViral: Viruses cause up to 5% of nosocomial infections. A person can acquire them from respiratory, fecal, or hand-mouth routes. Viruses that may transfer through healthcare settings include:hepatitisinfluenzarotavirusGastrointestinal: Some bacteria can pass through the intestinal walls and cause infection in susceptible people. Symptoms Symptoms of other types of infection include:feverchillsrashheadachemuscle achenausea and vomitingcoughconfusiondiarrhea Diagnosis A doctor will diagnose these infections by examining the physical symptoms and performing laboratory tests, including blood tests, to reveal which pathogens affect the patient. Treatment Treatments vary according to the type of infection.Fungal: A doctor will treat a fungal infection with traditional treatments, such as antibiotics and antifungal medications.Viral: Antibiotics cannot treat viruses. In some cases, doctors can only treat symptoms, and antiviral drugs are available to treat certain kinds of viruses.Gastrointestinal: A doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat a gastrointestinal infection. Potential complications Infection can lead to more severe infections and complications such as sepsis. Risk factors Some people are at higher risk than others of nosocomial infection. These risk factors include:prolonged hospital staybeing of older ageworking in a hospital or healthcare facility, although people should follow hygiene best practices to help avoid infectionscatheter insertionrecent or frequent antibiotic usereceiving healthcare in a developing countryhaving a compromised immune systemhaving other chronic illnessesmalnutritionobesityusing tobaccousing certain medications, such as gastric acid-suppressing medication Doctors will inform people of the potential risk of developing infections when receiving care. Medical professional workers will assess a person’s risk factors for developing specific infections and provide measures to help minimize them. Preventions Healthcare workers and patients can help prevent nosocomial infection. Preventive measures include:healthcare workers practicing good hand hygienepersonal protective equipment for healthcare workers, such as gloves and masksproper cleaning of all surfaces and clearing away of hospital wasteantibiotic control policies to prevent overusing antibiotics, which can lead to resistancepatients cleaning, not shaving, relevant areas before surgeryhealthcare workers educating patients on proper care of medical devicespatients trying to quit smoking, if applicablepatients practicing good hygiene during the healing process Outlook The outlook for a nosocomial infection varies by its type and severity. Researchers have not fully documented the mortality rates of these infections, which vary between sources of information. Some studies show a 10% mortality rate, while others argue there is a 12–80% mortality rate for these infections, depending on the definitions researchers include in studies. Therefore, more research needs to determine more conclusive figures. An international study from the above research found that people in the ICU with nosocomial infections had a 25% mortality rate. The study also found that while there was a 15% mortality rate for hospital patients overall, there was a 30% mortality rate for those with nosocomial infection. Summary Nosocomial infections are infections that a person may acquire while receiving healthcare. The infection is not usually present before their admittance, and the individual acquires it in a setting such as a hospital or long-term care facility. These infections often occur with catheters, surgery, or medical device implantation. Different types of nosocomial infections can lead to different symptoms and complications. Doctors can provide a prompt diagnosis and treatment depending on the type of infection. Last medically reviewed on September 27, 2022Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / VirusesPalliative Care / Hospice Care 17 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Chopra, V., et al. (n.d.). Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI): An introduction.https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/pdf/strive/CLABSI101-508.pdfda Cruz, L. F., et al. (2021). The importance of intestinal microbiota and its role in the nosocomial infection.https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/19166Diseases and organisms in healthcare settings. 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Nosocomial infections.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559312/Streptococcal infections. (2016).https://medlineplus.gov/streptococcalinfections.htmlSuleyman, G., et al. (2021). Nosocomial fungal infections: Epidemiology, infection control, and prevention [Abstract].https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34752219/Symptoms of invasive candidiasis. (2020).https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/candidiasis/invasive/symptoms.htmlTypes of healthcare-associated infections. (2014).https://www.cdc.gov/hai/infectiontypes.htmlViral infections. (2016).https://medlineplus.gov/viralinfections.htmlViral infections. (2022).https://www.sepsis.org/sepsisand/viral-infections/WHO calls for global action on sepsis - cause of 1 in 5 deaths worldwide. (2022).https://www.who.int/news/item/08-09-2020-who-calls-for-global-action-on-sepsis---cause-of-1-in-5-deaths-worldwideFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Darragh O'Carroll, MD — By Caitlin Geng on September 27, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? 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