Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) Practice Exam 2025 – The All-in-One Guide for Exam Success

The term that describes an infection acquired by a patient during healthcare treatment is Healthcare-associated infection (HAI). HAIs can occur in hospitals, outpatient settings, nursing homes, or any healthcare facility, and they are distinct from community-acquired infections, which are infections that a person contracts outside of a healthcare setting.

Healthcare-associated infections are a significant concern because they can arise from various sources, such as surgical procedures, catheter use, and the presence of multi-drug resistant organisms in healthcare environments. The focus on HAIs is crucial for infection control and epidemiology, as these infections can lead to prolonged hospital stays, increased resistance to antibiotics, and higher healthcare costs.

In contrast, community-acquired infections originate in the general environment outside of healthcare facilities, latent infections refer to infections that remain inactive in the body until they reactivate, and chronic infections are long-lasting infections that can persist for months or years. Understanding the definition and implications of healthcare-associated infections is essential for effective infection prevention and control strategies in healthcare settings.