Final answer:
An infection contracted within the health care setting is known as a nosocomial infection, distinct from community-acquired or iatrogenic diseases. These infections often occur due to the hospitalized environment and involve factors like the presence of pathogens, use of medical devices, and patient susceptibility.
Step-by-step explanation:
An infection contracted within the health care setting is known as a nosocomial infection, also referred to as hospital-acquired infection or healthcare-associated infection. Unlike community-acquired infections, which are acquired outside of healthcare facilities, nosocomial infections occur in a hospital or other healthcare facility environment and can be facilitated by factors such as the presence of many pathogens, the use of invasive medical devices like catheters and ventilators, and the weakened immune systems of patients.
Nosocomial diseases are distinguished from iatrogenic diseases, which are a direct result of a medical procedure or treatment. For example, an iatrogenic disease could occur if during a surgical procedure, the surgical site becomes contaminated, leading to an infection.