15 Tips to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections
About 1 in every 25 inpatients has an infection related to hospital care, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). From surgical site infections to bloodstream infections, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) have been increasing in numbers every year.
Here are some safety guidelines you can implement to prevent, reduce and ultimately eliminate risk of a HAI, according to the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths (RID):
1. Make sure everyone has clean hands. The single most imperative way to protect yourself is by ensuring hospital staff clean their hands before treating you. Visitors can also be asked to do the same. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are more effective at removing most bacteria than soap and water. Just because a caregiver is wearing gloves does not mean their hands are clean. Don’t be afraid to ask your nurse or doctor to wash their hands in front of you.
2. Choose your surgeon wisely. If you require a surgery, take note of the ones with a low-infection rate. Surgeons know this information and you shouldn’t hesitate asking for it.
3. Pick a hospital with a low infection rate. This information is limited to the public, but you can obtain hospital infection report cards online.
4. Be tested for MRSA. At least one week prior to your surgery, request to be tested for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Usually conducted by means of a nasal swab, this test once taken can add extra precautions that can aid in protecting you from infection.
5. Be clean. Beginning 3 to 5 days before surgery, shower or bathe daily with chlorhexidine soap (over-the-counter brands include Cetaphil and Hibiclens). This will help remove any dangerous bacteria you may be carrying on your skin.
6. Don’t shave the surgical site. Razors can create small nicks in your skin where bacteria can enter. If hair must be removed before surgery, request that clippers be used instead of a razor.
7. Get an antibiotic. On your operation day, remind your doctor that you may need an antibiotic one hour prior to the first incision. A pre-surgical antibiotic is common for many surgeries, but it is often neglected by busy staff. Make sure to take all of the antibiotics you are prescribed and don’t share them with other people.
8. Stay warm. For many types of surgery, patients who are kept warm resist infection better. Operating rooms are often cold, so ask your doctor about keeping you warm during surgery with use of special blankets, hats and booties, and even warmed IV liquids.
9. Watch your sugar levels. Ask your doctor about monitoring your glucose during and after the procedure, especially if you are having cardiac surgery. During this time, stress often makes glucose levels spike intermittently. Heart patients resist infection better when blood glucose levels are controlled. Continue monitoring even when you are discharged, because you aren’t fully healed yet.
10. Monitor your IV. If you require an IV, ensure that it’s inserted and removed under clean conditions and changed every three to four 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.
11. Sanitize. Use bleach wipes to disinfect surfaces around the bed, including bedrails, call button and television controls.
12. Be mindful of germs. Avoid touching your mouth with your hands, and do not set food or utensils on your bed sheets or furniture. Bacteria can live for many days on surfaces and can cause infections if they get into your mouth.
13. Don’t smoke. Patients who smoke are three times more likely to develop a surgical site infection than nonsmokers, and have significantly slower recoveries and longer hospital stays.
14. Pick a different catheter. 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.
15. Avoid a urinary tract catheter if possible. This 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. It’s also ok to ask hospital staff how long you will need a catheter, or if it’s still necessary. Leaving a catheter in too long increases the chance of infection.
16. Know the signs and Symptoms of infection. Tell your doctor or nurse if you see redness or fluid coming from a surgical or IV catheter site, if you have pain in the area, or experience a fever. Here is a full list of infection symptoms.