Usually when people go into the hospital, they are thinking about getting well – not worrying about getting another illness as a result of their hospital stay. Many people may not even think about hospital infections or know that they are at risk.

The truth is that anyone who is hospitalized for any kind of treatment or surgery can get a hospital infection. Other factors, like your age and health, can also affect your risk level. Because young children, the elderly, and people with already weakened immune systems tend to have a lower resistance to infection, they are at greater risk for getting hospital infections. Poor nutrition and disease history can also lower your resistance to infection.

Your risk for a hospital infection may also increase depending on why you are hospitalized, and for how long. For example, if you are having surgery, the surgical wound is a common area that can become infected. Having any type of invasive procedure (e.g., a medical procedure in which something is entering the body), like catheters or ventilation tubes, will also increase your risk for hospital infections. People who are hospitalized for a longer period of time will have a greater likelihood of getting a hospital infection.

Read more about Causes and Risk Factors.