The hospital can be a dangerous place. You go there to get healed but there is a significant risk you can get sick from a germ you pick up there.
“Although there has been some progress, today and every day, more than 200 Americans with healthcare-associated infections will die during their hospital stay,” said Centers for Disease Control Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H., in announcing last month his agency’s latest report on infections. “The most advanced medical care won’t work if clinicians don’t prevent infections through basic things such as regular hand hygiene,” Frieden said. “Health care workers want the best for their patients; following standard infection control practices every time will help ensure their patients’ safety.”
The grim numbers from the CDC. In 2011, there were 722,000 healthcare associated infections in US hospitals. That means the patients didn’t come in with these infections; they got them while being treated in the hospitals. About 75,000 patients died from these infections. Lots of patients get sick from hospital infections,not just those who came in with severe health problems. In fact, more than half the infections happened outside the intensive care units at the hospitals.
Here is a guide for patients from the CDC, giving advice on how to avoid getting an infection in the hospital.
WAYS TO BE A SAFE PATIENT
1
SPEAK UP.
Talk to your doctor about all questions or worries you have. Ask them what they are doing to protect you. If you have a catheter,
ask each day if it is necessary. Ask your doctor how he/she prevents surgical site infections. Also ask how you can prepare for surgery to reduce your infection risk.
2
KEEP HANDS CLEAN.
Be sure everyone cleans their hands before touching you.
3
GET SMART ABOUT ANTIBIOTICS.
Ask if tests will be done to make sure the right antibiotic is prescribed.
4
KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF INFECTION.
Some skin infections, such as MRSA, appear as redness, pain, or drainage at an IV catheter site or surgery site. Often these
symptoms come with a fever. Tell your doctor if you have these symptoms.
5
WATCH OUT FOR DEADLY DIARRHEA.
(AKA C. difficile )
Tell your doctor if you have 3 or more diarrhea episodes in 24 hours, especially if you have been taking an antibiotic.
6
PROTECT YOURSELF.
Get vaccinated against flu and other infections to avoid complicationsHere is more good advice from the National Patient Safety Foundation
Wash your hands carefully after handling any type of soiled material. This is especially important after you have gone to the bathroom.
Since you are part of your health care team, do not be afraid to remind doctors and nurses about washing their hands before working with you.
If you have an intravenous catheter, keep the skin around the dressing clean and dry. Tell your nurse promptly if the dressing works loose or gets wet.
Likewise, if you have a dressing on a wound, let your nurse know promptly if it works loose or gets wet.
If you have any type of catheter or drainage tube, let your nurse know promptly if it becomes loose or dislodged.
If you have diabetes, be sure that you and your doctor discuss the best way to control your blood sugar before, during, and after your hospital stay. High blood sugar increases the risk of infection noticeably.
If you are overweight, losing weight will reduce the risk of infection following surgery.
If you are a smoker, you should consider a smoking cessation program. This will reduce the chance of developing a lung infection while in the hospital and may also improve your healing abilities following surgery.
Carefully follow your doctors instructions regarding breathing treatments and getting out of bed. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, advice, or sufficient pain medications!
If possible, ask your friends and relatives not to visit if they themselves feel ill.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions about your care so that you may fully understand your treatment plan and expected outcomes. You will be able to recover more easily, and your family and friends can best help you, if you know what is to be expected.
Easy Related Posts
