Ahealthcare-associated infection (traditionally known as a nosocomial infection) is: a) acquired during the course of hospitalization. b) always caused by medical personnel. c) always present, but is inapparent at the time of hospitalization. d) only a result of surgery. e) always caused by pathogenic bacteria.

The correct answer is a) acquired during the course of hospitalization

Explanation:

Hospitals and other health care facilities have plenty of bacteria and other microbes which can transfer to the patients that are seeking treatment in these health care units and can cause infection. So the infection acquired during the period of treatment or course of hospitalization is called nosocomial infection.

Intravascular catheters are responsible to cause most of the hospital-acquired infection and 2,50,000 people in USA alone get affected by nosocomial infection by using Intravascular catheters.

Staphylococcus aureus, E.coli are amongst the most common cause of these infections. So the right answer is a.