Prevent Hospital Infections
Take Steps to Reduce Your Risk During Your Stay
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 31 patients gets a health care-associated infection while staying at the hospital. Often, these happen because hospital procedures and equipment can expose internal parts of your body to germs. The chart below lists common infections and steps you can take to prevent them.
Superbugs
A superbug is a germ that causes a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection but does not respond to the usual treatments. This means these bugs make you sicker longer and increase your risk of more serious complications. Common strains include MRSA, E. coli, C. diff, and VRE. Superbugs spread from person to person through touching germy hands or objects. Protect yourself by taking the steps below. And remember, wash your hands and ask everyone you see during your stay to wash his or her hands too.
Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (UTI)
Germs enter your urinary tract while using a tube to drain urine.
- fever
- burning or pain in lower belly
- bloody or frequent urination
- Clean hands before touching the area.
- Keep urine bag below the level of your bladder to prevent backflow.
- Don’t tug, pull, twist, or bend the tube.
- Secure the catheter to your leg and ask every day if it’s still needed.
Surgical site infection
Germs affect the site of your surgery—either on your skin or internally.
- redness
- pain
- drainage of cloudy fluid
- fever
- Do not shave surgery site (irritation increases risk of infection).
- Clean hands before touching the area.
- Don’t let visitors touch or dress your wound.
- Ask your nurse to show you how to care for your wound.
Central line-associated bloodstream infection
Germs enter your bloodstream through a large tube that’s inserted in a vein near your neck, chest, or groin.
- red skin and soreness at site
- fever
- chills
- Clean hands before touching the area.
- Make sure staff wears gloves, gown, cap, mask, and sterile drape when handling the tube.
- Speak up if your bandage comes loose, looks wet or dirty, or if your skin looks sore.
- Avoid touching the tube or letting visitors touch it.
- Ask that the tube be removed as soon as possible.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia
Germs enter your lungs through a tube in your mouth, nose, or neck used to help you breathe.
- cough with mucus
- nausea and vomiting
- fever and chills
- chest pain
- shortness of breath
- Clean hands before touching the area.
- Ask if it’s safe to raise the head of your bed.
- Know how often the inside of your mouth needs to be cleaned and speak up when it hasn’t happened.
- Ask that the tube be removed as soon as possible.