Which patient is at the greatest risk for hospital-acquired infections (HAI)?

The patient receiving chemotherapy for lung cancer is at the greatest risk for hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) due to the immunocompromised state induced by the treatment. Chemotherapy attacks not only cancer cells but also affects healthy cells, particularly those responsible for producing white blood cells, which are crucial for mounting an effective immune response. This reduction in white blood cell counts increases susceptibility to infections as the body’s defenses are weakened, making it difficult to fight off pathogens encountered in a hospital setting.

In contrast, while other patients may have risk factors for infections, such as being older or undergoing surgery, they do not present the same level of immunocompromise. The older adult male could be at increased risk due to age, but he may still have a functioning immune system. The young woman scheduled for surgery has risks related to the surgical procedure but will temporarily be in a controlled environment where infection prevention protocols are typically strict. The young man recovering from fractures may have his own challenges related to recovery but is not as acutely compromised as someone undergoing chemotherapy.