What is the Difference Between Nosocomial and Community Acquired Infection?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between nosocomial and community-acquired infections lies in the environment where they are contracted. Nosocomial infections, also known as healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), are acquired during the process of receiving healthcare, such as in a hospital or healthcare facility. In contrast, community-acquired infections (CAIs) are contracted outside of a healthcare setting.
Nosocomial infections typically occur later during the course of hospitalization and are often associated with a procedure or instrumentation. They are acquired in an environment with resistant microorganisms, which can lead to more severe infections and increased morbidity and mortality. On the other hand, community-acquired infections presumably develop spontaneously outside of healthcare settings.
Some examples of community-acquired infections include pneumonia, norovirus, influenza, botulism, hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These infections can be transmitted from person to person, including from patients to other patients within healthcare facilities.
In summary, the key difference between nosocomial and community-acquired infections is the environment where they are contracted, with nosocomial infections occurring in healthcare settings and community-acquired infections occurring outside of healthcare settings.
Comparative Table: Nosocomial vs Community Acquired Infection
Here is a table summarizing the differences between nosocomial and community-acquired infections:
Feature | Nosocomial Infections | Community-Acquired Infections |
---|---|---|
Definition | Infections contracted by patients during their stay in a healthcare facility | Infections contracted outside a healthcare facility |
Onset | First signs of infection occur more than 48 hours after admission to the hospital | Infections become clinically apparent within 48 hours of hospital admission |
Causative Agents | Acquired in an environment of resistant microorganisms or associated with a procedure or instrumentation | Presumably develops spontaneously and is not associated with a specific procedure or instrumentation |
Prevalence | Occur in hospital settings and are also known as hospital-acquired infections | Occur in community settings, such as outpatient clinics |
Sample Infections | Hospital-acquired pneumonia, surgical site infections, urinary tract infections, and bloodstream infections | Community-acquired pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and skin infections |
Both nosocomial and community-acquired infections can be transmitted via direct or indirect contact with body fluids of infected patients, airborne spread, fomite transmission, and contaminated food and water.
- Cross Infection vs Secondary Infection
- Medical vs Surgical Asepsis
- Coinfection vs Superinfection
- Infection vs Disease
- Bacteremia vs Septicemia
- Strep vs Staph Infection
- Communicable vs Non-Communicable Diseases
- Innate Immunity vs Acquired Immunity
- Contagious Disease vs Infectious Disease
- Viral vs Bacterial Infection
- Colonization vs Infection
- Sepsis vs Septicemia
- Sepsis vs Septicemia
- Inflammation vs Infection
- Pneumonia vs Chest Infection
- Inoculation vs Incubation
- Typical vs Atypical Pneumonia
- Staphylococcus vs Streptococcus
- Meningitis vs Meningococcal