The purpose of this article is to clearly define hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) in the surrounding world. It’s also about identifying who is at risk and how people working in the healthcare setting can reduce those risks. As well as how this could save money for the healthcare sector and prevent deaths from these infections. By offering a better quality of care to patients and avoiding unnecessary contamination. HAIs or also called nosocomial infections (HAIs) are produced by viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic pathogens (Cataldo et al., 2013). This is an infection that did not exist when the patient arrived at the hospital. However, it develops during the treatment of the patient's initial diagnosis. There are also cases where the infection does not develop until a few days after the patient is discharged (Collin, 2008). Anyone treated in a healthcare establishment has the possibility of contracting an HAI. However, as with anything, there are certain factors that increase a person's risk. These factors are intrinsic and extrinsic. The factors vary widely, as HAIs can affect anyone, from newborns to terminally ill people. Intrinsic risk factors are problems that already existed in the patient. When it comes to HAIs, these include: the person's age, lifestyle, medication use, and whether they have an acute or chronic illness. A person's age is a factor because, at birth, a person is relatively immunocompromised, and with age the immune system becomes dysfunctional. If a person is overweight and smokes, this can also put them at risk, because smoking can interfere with the healing process and being overweight can make it difficult to stay clean. Finally drugs in the middle of paper...... 3rd ed., Vol. 3, p. 1661-1664). Detriot: Gale, Cengage Learning. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX2760400524&v=2.1&u=plysc_main&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w&asid=d1c7ab3fcaaae65791c55cfe42d7cfecCollins, AS (2008). Chapter 41- Prevention of nosocomial infections. In H. RG (Ed.), Patient safety and quality: an evidence-based handbook for nurses. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Retrieved from http://www-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.libproxy.plymouth.edu/books/NBK2683 Giuliano, KK, Kleinpell, RM, Munro CL (2008). Chapter 42 – Targeting nosocomial infections: evidence-based strategies. In H. RG (Ed.), Patient safety and quality: an evidence-based handbook for nurses. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Retrieved from http://wwwncbi-nlm-nih-gov.libproxy.plymouth.ed/books/NBK2632