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Tips to stay away from hospital acquired infections

Tips to stay away from hospital acquired infections

Here is a guide on how you can avoid contracting hospital aquired infections.

Written by Pavitra Sampath |Published : January 7, 2014 3:48 PM IST

Hospital aquired infectionsA hospital is usually thought of as a haven of good health and cleanliness. But that might not always be true. With the number of patients admitted and the varied types of diseases that the hospital caters to it is highly possible that infections get spread form one person to the other. Also known as hospital acquired infections this is a common occurrence in a large number of patients the world over. Here are some tips on how you can avoid contracting one.

What is a hospital acquired infection?

A hospital acquired infection (HAI) also called a nosocomial infection is an infection that a person suffers from when they are admitted or have been treated at a hospital. The source of infection can be detected back to a hospital and often the cause is unique to those organisms found in a hospital setting. Usually caused due to a bacteria or virus, these infections are often difficult to treat and tend to recur.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of an HAI are similar to those you might notice in the case of any common infection, but varies depending on the type of treatment you have had at the hospital. The definitive sign of a nosocomial infection is the appearance of the symptoms three days after admission to a hospital or after undergoing some form of treatment.

If you have had any kind of surgery (major or minor) one of the most common signs of an infection is redness, swelling, pain and pus secretion around the area that has the incision. This can be accompanied with fever, body ache or pain in the area that is affected.

In the case of non surgical treatments, the signs could be varied. The most common are sore throat, eruptions on the skin, constant coughing, irritation in the eyes, fever, malaise etc.

There are times when diagnostic tests could also lead to an infection. For instance, if you have had a vaginal examination you might suffer from symptoms associated with vaginitis (itching of the vagina and foul smelling vaginal discharge). In the case of catheterisation you might notice blood in your urine, pain while passing urine, generalised pain in the abdomen, itching and burning sensation and frequent urination.

How is it diagnosed?

The diagnosis of a hospital acquired infection is based mainly on the symptoms that you visit your doctor with. Apart from that he/she may advice a blood test, microscopic examination of the wound (in case of an incision) and other diagnostic tests like an ultrasound or X-ray (in the case of suspected lung infections).

How can it be prevented?

Most hospitals have a set protocol to avoid the spread of such infections but in many cases these rules may get overlooked, so the best way to avoid contracting an infection is by keeping an eye out for proper sanitary practices. Here's how:

Tips to prevent infection by the hospital staff:

  • Ensure that the patient is touched by the doctor or nurse with fresh gloves only. It is also a common practice in hospitals for the nurse/doctor to clean their hands either with soap and water or with hand sanitizer before touching a patient. It best that you ensure that they follow that practice.
  • Make sure the patient's room is cleaned and linens are changed on a daily basis.
  • If the patient has used a bed pan, make sure that you get a ward boy to clean out the bed pan immediately after use. Leaving it open in the room can lead to spread of infection.
  • If the patient is admitted to a general ward, make sure any open wounds are dressed appropriately and changed on a daily basis.
  • If the patient passes urine or stools in the bed make sure that the bedding is changed immediately and the patient is cleaned appropriately as well.
  • Request the nurse to check incisions and the catheters for any signs of infections on a daily basis. In the case of a catheter or drain, the bag that collects the urine/stool/fluid should be checked for change in colour regularly. This is an indicator of many conditions including an infection.
  • Keep a track of the patient's temperature. If you notice a spike in his/her temperature it could mean they are suffering from fever which could indicate an infection.

For visitors and the care taker:

  • Avoid sitting on the bed of the patient or using anything common between you and him/her. This will help keep any communicable infections at bay.
  • Make sure that the patient does not have too many visitors at one time. This will help in reducing the possibility of him/her getting infected with bacteria/viruses from the environment.
  • Visitors should clean their hands well with a hand sanitizer before touching the patient. Since they might themselves be carriers of infective organisms.
  • If possible ask them to remove their footwear outside the room. This will reduce the number of organisms brought into the room.
  • Avoid using the same toilet as the patient as this could spread infections as well.
  • Clean your hands regularly and essentially before touching the patient and after touching fomites (commonly touched objects like door handles, toilet flushes, tap faucets etc.)
  • As a caretaker, make sure you bathe regularly, eat healthy food and stay as clean as possible.

It is important to understand that the hospital staff usually do everything in their purview to take care of your health, but it is also your responsibility to ensure that you or your loved one gets the best care possible.

Reference:

Healthline.com

Principles of Hospital Administration and Planning BM Sakharkar

Quality hospital care - Jan Farooq A

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