Hospital-acquired pneumonia

Hospital-acquired pneumonia, also called HAP or nosocomial pneumonia, is any pneumonia that a patient contracts in a hospital at least 48 to 72 hours after being admitted. That timing is what separates it from community-acquired pneumonia, which begins outside a healthcare setting. It is usually caused by a bacterial infection rather than a virus. Hospital-acquired pneumonia is the second most common nosocomial infection after urinary tract infections, accounting for roughly 15 to 20 percent of all such infections. It is the most common cause of death among nosocomial infections and the primary cause of death in intensive care units, and it is also among the most common infections acquired in hospital by children worldwide. It typically lengthens a hospital stay by one to two weeks. The record here describes what is held about the condition and is not medical advice.