How to avoid dangerous infections while in hospital
Recent hospital-based studies in the USA have revealed that almost ¾ of all patients’ rooms are contaminated with the deadly methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and 69% with vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE). In Australia the infection rate of hospitals is not made public, but the Australian Medical Association has called for such information to be made widely available. Where these figures have been published overseas, health systems have been able to address the causes and bring infection rates down.
In one such study 42% of gloves worn by hospital staff with no direct patient contact had touched other surfaces and become contaminated. And it has been widely observed that nurses and doctors go from patient to patient without changing their gloves, in effect delivering the accumulated germs to everyone under their care.
Because of this problem with hospital based infection it would be wise to know in advance what you could do to protect yourself if you need surgery, or any hospital stay. Following are some of the pro-active steps advised by the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths to protect yourself from life threatening germs while you are in hospital:
*Don’t be afraid to ask the staff to clean their hands and equipment, such as stethoscopes, before treating you
*Choose a surgeon with a low infection rate. Surgeons should know their infection rates, and be willing to tell their patients;
*Five days before surgery start bathing or showering daily using chlorhexidine soap, which can be purchased without a prescription;
*Ask your surgeon to test you for MRSA at least one week before you come into the hospital. Then if you are found to have it some extra precautions will be taken to protect both yourself and other patients;
*Stop smoking well in advance of your surgery, as smokers are three times more likely to develop an infection than non-smokers. Smokers also have slower recoveries and longer hospital stays;
*Patients who are kept warm resist infection better, so discuss options with your doctor ahead of time as operating theatres are kept quite cool;
*If possible do not have the surgical site shaved because small nicks in the skin invite bacteria to enter;
*Avoid touching your mouth with your fingers or hands while in hospital;
*Use a tissue or paper towel to touch taps, light switches, remote controls, and door handles, then dispose of it;
*Do not set any food or utensils on furniture or the bedclothes.
*Ask all of your visitors to wash their hands before touching you;
*If you need a catheter request an antibiotic-impregnated or silver-chlorhexidine-coated one;
If patients become vocal and proactive in their pursuit of appropriate hygiene in hospitals there will be an improvement for everyone in the community, and less death and disability from hospital acquired infections.
References:http://www.hospitalinfection.org/, http://www.nswama.com.au/content/view/678/194/