Final answer:
A nosocomial infection refers to a hospital-acquired infection not present at the time of admission, such as a UTI developed after urinary catheter insertion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the options provided, a nosocomial infection would be considered a hospital-acquired infection, occurring in a patient during the process of care in a hospital or other healthcare facility which was not present at the time of admission. Therefore, the correct answer is:
C. a female patient who develops a UTI after having a urinary catheter.
Nosocomial infections are typically contracted within a healthcare setting, often due to factors like contaminated medical equipment, healthcare workers not adequately washing hands, or the presence of patients with weakened immune systems. An infection due to a urinary catheter, as seen in the example provided, is a classic case of a nosocomial infection because the infection was acquired due to the medical intervention within the hospital setting.