Question

Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): Hospital acquired infection is single largest factor that adversely affect both patient and hospital.
Reason (R): Patients are forced to stay longer in hospital because of hospital acquired infections.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

• A. Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
• B. Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
• C. (A) is correct but (R) is not correct
• D. (A) is not correct but (R) is correct

Hint:

Hospital acquired infections increase hospital stay, treatment cost, morbidity, and mortality.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Concept: Hospital acquired infections (HAIs), also called nosocomial infections, are infections that develop during hospitalization and were not present at the time of admission. These infections can:
• Increase patient suffering
• Prolong hospital stay
• Increase healthcare costs
• Increase workload on hospitals
• Raise morbidity and mortality Thus, HAIs negatively affect both patients and healthcare institutions.

Step 1: Analyze Assertion (A).
Hospital acquired infections are a major factor adversely affecting patients as well as hospitals through increased complications and healthcare burden.
Hence, Assertion (A) is correct.

Step 2: Analyze Reason (R).
Patients with hospital acquired infections often require prolonged hospitalization for treatment and recovery.
Hence, Reason (R) is correct.

Step 3: Check whether Reason explains Assertion.
Longer hospital stay due to hospital acquired infections increases costs, bed occupancy, and complications, which explains why these infections adversely affect both patients and hospitals. Therefore, Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A). Hence, the correct answer is: \[ \boxed{(A)\ \text{Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)}} \]