| nosocomial | <microbiology> Pertaining to or originating in the hospital, said of an infection not present or incubating prior to admittance to the hospital, but generally occurring 72 hours after admittance, the term is usually used to refer to patient disease, but hospital personnel may also acquire nosocomial infection. Compare: iatrogenic. Origin: Gr. Komeion = to take care of (18 Nov 1997) |
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| nosocomial gangrene | A chronic ulcer that appears in pressure areas in debilitated patients confined to bed or otherwise immobilised, due to a circulatory defect from the enhanced tissue pressure in high-contact areas, often occurring over a bony prominence (for example sacral decubitus). (27 Sep 1997) |
| nosocomial infection | <microbiology> Hospital acquired infection: commonest are due to Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. Coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens and Proteus mirabilis. (18 Nov 1997) |
| nosocomial pneumonia | <chest medicine> A type of pneumonia that is caused by bacteria contracted during a hospitalisation. These hospital-acquired infections tend to be more difficult to treat due to the bacteria's relative resistance to common forms of antibiotic therapy. Risk of nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infection is a major determinant when a physician decides whether or not the risks outweigh the benefits concerning necessity for hospitalisation. (13 Nov 1997) |