Hospital-acquired infections

[Jessica]

People who are admitted to the hospital are at risk of acquiring an infection there. Such infections are called nosocomial infections. In the United States, about 4-5% of people who are hospitalized get a nosocomial infection, and about 75,000 of these people die each year. (See also Problems Due to Hospitalization.)
The risk of infection is higher for

Infants
Older people
People with a weakened immune system

Nosocomial infections may be caused by bacteria or fungi. Bacterial and fungal infections can be dangerous and deadly.
Organisms that are acquired in hospitals are often resistant to many common antibiotics. The frequent use of antibiotics in hospitals encourages resistant strains to develop.
Hospital-acquired infections include pneumonia, urinary tract infections, infection of surgical incisions, and blood infections.