Hospitals are also source of infection, some times more deadly than the disease.
Please read my post on this.
Prevention of Hospital infection .
From methacillin resistant staph (MRSA) to Clostridium difficile (C. diff), we now know that these infections can be prevented through rigorous precautions and awareness. Here are 12 steps you can take to reduce your risk of hospital infections.
1. Ask hospital staff and visitors (very important!) to wash their hands before treating you.
Alcohol based hand cleaners should be at every bedside. Make sure it is used.
2. Make sure the Doctor or nurse wipes the stethoscope with alcohol before examining you.
3. Ask your surgeon about his/her infection rate. He should know the answer for the
procedure being performed.
4. Beginning 3-5 days before surgery, shower or bathe daily with chlorhexidine soap. You can
buy it over the counter.
5. Ask your surgeon to have you tested for MRSA one week before your surgery. It is a
simple test with a nasal swab.
6. Stop smoking well in advance of surgery. Smokers are 3X as likely to develop surgical site infections.
7. Remind your doctor that you may need an antibiotic one hour before the first incision. (this depends upon the type of surgery but is a critical time period)
8. Do not shave the surgical site. Razors can cause small nicks in the skin and allow infection.
9. Avoid putting food or utensils on furniture or hospital bed sheets.
10. Ask your doctor about monitoring your glucose levels continuously during and after
surgery, especially cardiac surgery. Tight glucose control helps patients resist infection.
11. If possible avoid a urinary tract catheter. (This is not always possible but be aware)
12. Make sure your IV is inserted under clean conditions and changed every 3-4 days.
Infection control is every one’s responsibility. I know it is hard to question a caregiver when you are the patient, but these infections are absolutely preventable and we can’t afford to make excuses for not doing the right thing. The evidence is clear. Now we need to make sure everyone adheres to them.”
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Understanding how infections spread, you can prepare ahead of time by packing some items that will help you fend off those germs.
Must-have items include:
- Antiseptic wipes and sprays will help you kill germs on surfaces. Don’t be afraid to wipe down everything you or your patient-loved-one will touch, or be touched by. Telephones, TV remotes, bedside tables, bed rails, bathroom surfaces, bathroom door handles, chairs and others. Spray pillows and bed linens. The most effective wipes and sprays contain bleach which is necessary to kill some of the most dangerous germs.
- Make yourself a sign using neon posterboard and a permanent marker that says “PLEASE WASH YOUR HANDS before touching me.” Then hang it in a prominent place in your hospital room, preferably just above your head so every caregiver will see it.
- A germ-filtering mask might come in handy if your roommate begins coughing. Find masks at your local pharmacy. Be sure they are the germ-filtering kind and don’t let someone else open the package if they haven’t already washed their hands.
Sources:
http://patients.about.com/od/atthehospital/ss/How-To-Prevent-Hospital-Acquired-Infections.htm
http://healthwise-everythinghealth.blogspot.in/2008/08/hospital-infections-take-charge.html
Related articles
- Be Safe Hospital Infections MRSA C.Diff (ramanan50.wordpress.com)
- Hospital super bug is almost wiped out as trust steps up fight (manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
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