PREVENT HOSPITAL INFECTIONS Take Steps to Reduce Your Risk During Your Stay
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1 in 25 patients gets a healthcare- associated infection while staying at the hospital. The chart below lists common infections and steps you can take to prevent them.
Type
Catheter- Associated Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
How It Starts
Germs enter your urinary tract while using a tube to drain urine
Symptoms n fever
n burning n pain
n
bloody or frequent urination
Surgical Site Infections
Germs affect the site of your surgery— either on your skin or internally
n redness n pain
n
drainage of cloudy fluid
n fever
Central Line- Associated Bloodstream Infections
Germs enter your bloodstream through a tube that’s inserted in a blood vessel in your arm, neck, chest or groin
n
red skin and soreness at site
n fever n chills
Prevention
n clean hands before touching area n
keep urine bag below level of bladder to prevent backflow
n don’t tug, pull, twist or bend the tube n Ask every day if catheter is still needed
n
do not shave before surgery to prevent risk of infection.
n clean hands before touching area
n don’t let visitors touch or dress your wound n
ask your nurse to show you how to care for your wound
n clean hands before touching area n
n n
make sure staff wears gloves, mask and sterile drape when handling tube
speak up if your bandage comes off, looks wet or dirty, or if your skin looks sore
avoid touching tube or letting visitors touch tube
Ventilator- Associated Pneumonia
Germs enter your lungs through a tube in your mouth, nose or neck used to help you breathe
n cough n mucus n fever n chills
n
shortness of breath
n ask that tube be removed as soon as possible n clean hands before touching area
n ask if it’s safe to raise the head of your bed n
know how often the inside of your mouth needs to be cleaned and speak up when it hasn’t happened
n ask that tube be removed as soon as possible
Super Bugs A “super bug” is a germ that causes a bacterial, viral or fungal infection, but doesn’t respond to usual treatments. This means these bugs make you sicker longer and increase your risk of serious complications. Common strands include MRSA, E. coli and VRE. Superbugs spread from person to person through touching hands or objects. Protect yourself by taking the steps above. And remember, wash your hands and ask everyone you see during your stay to wash his or her hands, too.
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