How to Avoid Hospital Infections
Posted by
Jennifer MooreJanuary 28, 2008 3:16 AMHave you ever known anyone admitted to the hospital and while a patient they develop an infection? An infection like MRSA can turn into a life-threatening situation. If you or a family member is facing surgery, I suggest reading the article, "15 Steps You Can Take to Reduce Your Risk of a Hospital Infection." It provides good tips on how to protect yourself against infections while a patient in a hospital.
1. Ask that hospital staff clean their hands before treating you, and ask visitors to clean their hands too. ...
2. Before your doctor uses a stethoscope, ask that the diaphragm (the flat surface) be wiped with alcohol. ...
3. If you need a "central line" catheter, ask your doctor about the benefits of one that is antibiotic-impregnated or silver-chlorhexidine coated to reduce infections. 4. If you need surgery, choose a surgeon with a low infection rate.
5. Beginning three to five days before surgery, shower or bathe daily with chlorhexidine soap. ...
6. Ask your surgeon to have you tested for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at least one week before you come into the hospital. ...
7. Stop smoking well in advance of your surgery. ...
8. On the day of your operation, remind your doctor that you may need an antibiotic one hour before the first incision. ...
9. Ask your doctor about keeping you warm during surgery. ...
10. Do not shave the surgical site. Razors can create small nicks in the skin, through which bacteria can enter. If hair must be removed before surgery, ask that clippers be used instead of a razor. ...
11. Avoid touching your hands to your mouth, and do not set food or utensils on furniture or bed sheets. Germs such as "C. Diff" can live for many days on surfaces and can cause infections if they get into your mouth. ...
12. Ask your doctor about monitoring your glucose (sugar) levels continuously during and after surgery, especially if you are having cardiac surgery. The stress of surgery often makes glucose levels spike erratically. ...
13. Avoid a urinary tract catheter if possible. It is a common cause of infection. The tube allows urine to flow from your bladder out of your body. Sometimes catheters are used when busy hospital staff don't have time to walk patients to the bathroom. If you have a catheter, ask your caregiver to remove it as soon as possible.
14. If you must have an IV, make sure that it's inserted and removed under clean conditions and changed every 3 to 4 days. Your skin should be cleaned at the site of insertion, and the person treating you should be wearing clean gloves. Alert hospital staff immediately if any redness appears.
15. If you are planning to have your baby by Cesarean section, follow the steps listed above as if you were having any other type of surgery. ...
