Which scenario best illustrates a nosocomial infection?

• A. A teacher contracts chickenpox, then visits a friend at hospital.
• B. A patient is admitted to hospital for measles, which they contracted while on vacation.
• C. A patient develops cellulitis at the surgical incision after bacterial contamination during surgery.
• D. A nurse contracts influenza while out at a concert.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the definition of a nosocomial infection: it is an infection acquired in a hospital or healthcare setting that was not present or incubating at the time of admission.
2. Analyze each scenario to determine if the infection was acquired inside the hospital or healthcare environment.
3. For the first scenario, a teacher contracts chickenpox outside the hospital and then visits a friend at the hospital, so the infection was not acquired in the hospital.
4. For the second scenario, the patient was admitted with measles contracted during vacation, so the infection was not hospital-acquired.
5. For the third scenario, the patient develops cellulitis at the surgical incision site due to bacterial contamination during surgery, which clearly indicates the infection was acquired in the hospital setting, fitting the definition of a nosocomial infection.