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A ___________infection, also known as a Hospital Acquired Infection or HAI, is an infection whose development is favored by a hospital environment, such as one acquired by a patient during a hospital visit or one developing among hospital staff. Such infections include fungal and bacterial infections and are aggravated by the reduced resistance of individual patients.

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Final answer:

A Hospital Acquired Infection (HAI) is an infection favored by a hospital environment. Nosocomial diseases are contracted in hospital settings, while iatrogenic diseases are the result of a medical procedure.

Step-by-step explanation:

A Hospital Acquired Infection (HAI) is an infection that is favored by a hospital environment, such as one acquired by a patient during a hospital visit or one developing among hospital staff. These infections can include fungal and bacterial infections and are worsened by the reduced resistance of individual patients.

Nosocomial diseases are contracted in hospital settings, while iatrogenic diseases are the direct result of a medical procedure. Factors that contribute to the prevalence and severity of nosocomial diseases include the introduction of pathogens into hospitals by sick patients, transmission via improperly sterilized medical equipment or surfaces, and weakened immune systems of hospital patients.

For example, if bandages or dressings become contaminated, a patient treated for a skin wound might acquire an infection such as necrotizing fasciitis caused by bacteria like Clostridium perfringens.

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