Question:easy
A nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infection is defined as one occurring within how many hours of hospital admission?
A nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infection is defined as one occurring within how many hours of hospital admission?
Show Hint
It is the same 2-day window used to call pneumonia ventilator-associated.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
- 48 hours
- 72 hours
- 24 hours
- 50 hours
Show Solution
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Memory hook: Nosocomial equals 48. The number to lock in is two full days after admission.
Reasoning: If an infection shows up within the first 48 hours, the patient most likely brought it in already incubating, so it is community-acquired. Only after that window can we attribute it to the hospital environment, instruments or staff.
Extended definition: The same label applies up to 3 days after discharge and up to 30 days after surgery, which is why surgical site infections counted late are still nosocomial.
Why not the others: 24 and 72 hours and 50 hours are distractors; only the 48-hour figure is the accepted definition. So the answer is 48 hours. Ref: Park PSM; NCBI NBK441857.
Reasoning: If an infection shows up within the first 48 hours, the patient most likely brought it in already incubating, so it is community-acquired. Only after that window can we attribute it to the hospital environment, instruments or staff.
Extended definition: The same label applies up to 3 days after discharge and up to 30 days after surgery, which is why surgical site infections counted late are still nosocomial.
Why not the others: 24 and 72 hours and 50 hours are distractors; only the 48-hour figure is the accepted definition. So the answer is 48 hours. Ref: Park PSM; NCBI NBK441857.
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