CMS Fundamentals Practice Exam

Infections acquired in a healthcare setting are called nosocomial infections. The key idea is that these infections develop while a patient is being treated in a hospital or similar facility and were not present or incubating at the time of admission. They often arise from medical procedures, use of invasive devices like catheters or ventilators, or transmission via contaminated surfaces or staff. They’re a major patient-safety concern because they can lengthen hospital stays and complicate recovery. This term is also known as hospital-acquired infection. The other options relate to safety measures or tools (isolation signage, gloves, sharps safety) rather than the infection itself.