Which patients are at risk of developing health care-associated infections (HAIs)? Select all that apply.

Patients with laryngeal cancer are at a heightened risk of developing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) due to several factors associated with their condition and treatment. Individuals with cancer often undergo various medical procedures, including surgeries, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy, which can compromise their immune system and create openings or vulnerabilities that make them more susceptible to infections. Additionally, the presence of tumors, treatments that affect the mucosal barriers, and potential use of invasive devices like tracheostomies further increase the risk of HAIs in patients with laryngeal cancer.

The other groups mentioned may have health concerns, but their conditions do not inherently predispose them to HAIs in the same manner. For example, while patients with asthma or diabetes have specific health challenges, these do not directly link to an increased risk for HAIs unless they are under particular medical situations or treatments that might complicate their health. A nurse working in a health center, although part of the healthcare environment, does not indicate a patient-like vulnerability but rather represents a potential source of infection if necessary precautions are not taken, which is a different context than patient risk.