Avoiding Hospital Acquired Infections

Hospital acquired infections (HAI) like MRSA have been in the news lately, as they are one of the top 10 causes of death in the United States.  HAIs are defined as infections acquired by patients while they are receiving treatment for another condition.  Every year, 1.7 million Americans are infected and more than 100,000 people die from HAIs, which have been found to be more prevalent in older persons (age >65), Blacks, and males.

 

What is disturbing is that these infections don’t have to happen.  There are steps that hospital staff and doctors can take to reduce the chance that patients will contract an infection, and there are also steps that patients can take to prevent infection themselves.  Considering that basic hygiene failures like dirty hands, inadequately cleaned equipment, and unclean patient rooms cause almost all hospital infections, it is in a patient’s best interest to insist that hospital staff follow hygiene practices.

 

What you can do to prevent hospital acquired infections

 

Experts recommend a number of steps that patients can take in order to reduce the chances that they will contract an HAI:

1. Ask healthcare providers to wash their hands before treating you.  Don’t be worried about hurting anyone’s feelings or insulting your nurse or doctor.  Remember, your life could be at stake – and that is more important than anybody’s feelings.  Experts have stated that when it comes to preventing HAIs, there is no substitute for hand washing.
2. Know what procedures commonly result in HAIs.  Central line insertion and complications from pneumonia are common ways that patients acquire HAIs.  If you or a family member needs a central line inserted or comes down with a pneumonia infection, be extra vigilant about ensuring all hospital staff that come in contact with the patient practice scrupulous hygiene.
3. Disinfect yourself ahead of time.  A week before surgery, shower each day with Chlorhexidine soap, which you can be bought at any drug store.
4. Get rid of skin infections.  Find out if you have staphylococcus on your skin, and if so ask to be treated.
5. Take antibiotics to prevent infections.  On the day of your surgery remind the surgeon you need preventative antibiotics, and be diligent about taking them as instructed, as long as instructed.  Never quit taking antibiotics early as you will just encourage resistant bugs to stick around and make you sick.
6. Clip, don’t shave.  If hair needs to be removed for surgery, ask if you can be clipped instead of shaved.  Clipping is less likely to make nicks in the skin which could allow bacteria to enter.
7. Ask your doctor or surgeon what can be done to keep you warm during surgery.  Operating rooms are often kept cool, but research shows that patients who are kept warm resist infections better.
8. Stop smoking, or cut down.  Patients who smoke have been found to be three times more likely to contract an infection.

 

What hospitals should do to prevent infections

 

In addition to standard hygiene practices, the CDC recommends that healthcare professionals follow these steps to prevent spreading hospital acquired infections:

1. Practice Good Hand Hygiene.  Healthcare workers should perform hand hygiene after touching blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, and contaminated items, whether or not gloves are worn.
2. Wear Clean Gloves When Possible.  Wear gloves when it can be reasonably anticipated that contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials, mucous membranes, nonintact skin, or potentially contaminated intact skin could occur.  Change gloves frequently to prevent hand or cross-contamination.
3. Use Mouth, Nose, and Eye Protection.  Use personal protection equipment to protect the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth during procedures and patient-care activities that are likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions and excretions.
4. Wear Appropriate Gowns.  Wear a gown, that is appropriate to the task, to protect skin and prevent soiling or contamination of clothing during procedures and patient-care activities when contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions is anticipated.
5. Handle Equipment and Instruments Appropriately.  Handle used patient-care equipment soiled with blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions in a manner that prevents skin and mucous membrane exposures, contamination of clothing, and transfer of microorganisms to other patients and environments. Ensure that reusable equipment is not used for the care of another patient until it has been appropriately cleaned and reprocessed and that single-use items are properly discarded.
6. Handle Laundry Appropriately.  Handle, transport, and process used linen to avoid contamination of air, surfaces and persons.

 

No patient should have to suffer from an avoidable surgical infection.  If you or someone you love have suffered from a preventable medical mistake, then you will want a skilled and experienced attorney on your side – and that attorney is Richard Serpe.  Please contact The Serpe Firm today and let us work with you to help you recover from the devastating effects of your medical mistake so you can get your life back on track and get the compensation you deserve.

 

Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, P.C.
580 East Main Street, Suite 310
Norfolk, VA 23510
Phone: 757-233-0009
Fax: 757-233-0455