nosocome-, nosocom-, nosokome-, noskom-

An excessive or strong fear of hospitals: Some people have valid reasons for having nosocompephobias because sick people are sent to medical centers, and those who are weak when sent there become weaker while being there, and are highly susceptible to further infections.

Helena developed nosocomephobia because, when she went into the local infirmary in a healthy condition for her back operation, she contracted an infection, and then she needed special medical treatment to recover from it before the doctor could operate.

Hospital melancholia, a depression from a prolonged stay in a health care center: Mental nosocomephrenia is observed in some patients who are required to stay in rehabilitation for medical treatment for an abnormally extended period of time.

A reference to a depression that has been caused by an overly extended stay in a medical treatment center: Tasha's nosocomephrenic depression was attributed to the fact that she had to be in hospital for several weeks.

1. Pertaining to the acquisition of a disease in a hospital or other health facility; used especially in reference to hospital-acquired infections and diseases: Every once in a while, as a nurse, Freda has acquired some nosocomial illnesses; such as, MRSA or "Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus", which is a kind of bacteria that has shown resistance to Methicillin, that is a very strong antibiotic.

Since antibiotics are used so often, there are bacteria that are resistant to them and which have also become common in medical centers where there are many nosocomial contagions.

2. Something that takes place in a medical institution; such as, a description of an infection not present or incubating prior to a patient’s admittance, but generally occurring 72 hours after he or she arrived there: Nosocomial refers to a secondary disorder associated with hospitalization but which is unrelated to the primary illness of the sick person.

The term usually refers to diseases invalids keep getting; however, some general clinic personnel are also acquiring nosocomial viruses, too.

The presence of microorganisms in the blood which are passed on to some other health-facility patients: People can die from nosocomial bacteremia because it often causes sepsis or infection of the blood or body tissues.

A chronic ulcer that appears in pressure areas in debilitated sufferers confined to bed or otherwise immobilized, because of a circulatory defect from the enhanced tissue pressure in high-contact areas, often occurring over a bony prominence: Nosocomial gangrene often results in hospitals when an invalid is in a reclining position for a long period of time.

An infection that is acquired in a hospital: Specifically, nosocomial infections are those that are not present nor incubating before patients have been admitted to a medical institution, but such contaminations usually become apparent within 72 hours after admission to the hospital.

Nosocomial infections that were (and are) resistant to antibiotics have become more widespread in infirmaries.

Acquired during treatment, nosocomial infections are produced by microorganisms that dwell in health facilities.

Nosocomial infections are why some people say that a medical center is no place for a sick person.

Nosocomial infections come from the microorganisms and pathogens that thrive in places for the treatment of diseases or arrive with new valetudinarians (sick persons) who go to such institutions.

Many nosocomial infections are spread in numerous ways because organisms can be transmitted:

An infection of the lungs that occurs during a stay in a health institution: Nosocomial pneumonia or hospital-acquired pneumonia tends to be more serious than other lung infections, because:

Infirmary-acquired pneumonia occurs more often in invalids who are using a respirator or ventilator machine to help them breathe. When pneumonia occurs in a person who is ill and on a ventilator, it is known as "ventilator-associated pneumonia".

Nosocomial pneumonia may be introduced into the lungs of sufferers with contaminated respiratory therapy equipment or simply by breathing the air filled with droplets of infections from other patients or coughing medical personnel; especially, when those who are sick are close together in intensive care units.

The increased use of drugs that reduce the body's rejection of implants, but at the same time, suppress the body's immune system, leaves the invalid vulnerable to infections that can kill; for example, nosocomial pneumonia.

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) or any pneumonia which is contracted by a patient in a hospital at least 48–72 hours after entry: Nosocomial respiratory infections are considered to be the second most common hospital infection (urinary tract infection is the most common) and it accounts for 15–20% of the total infections that are acquired from medical facilities.

Nosocomial respiratory infections are said to be the most common causes of death that are transmitted in intensive care units or infirmaries.

A medical facility where people stay when they are sick or injured and need a lot of care from doctors and nurses: When Kermit had a heart attack, he was taken to the local nosocomium by ambulance.

Some people are convinced that there are not enough nosocomia available to take care of all of the men, women, and children with ailments that need medical treatment.

The study of hospital management: Sometimes there are nosocomologies which exist with the objectives of checking to see if health care centers are being properly administered.