How to Prevent Hospital Infections

It's estimated that 1.7 million Americans are infected while having surgery in the hospital. A lot of this has to do with the cleanliness of the hospital, but you are not completely at their mercy. There are some things you can do to before surgery to decrease your chances of developing an infection.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

How to Prevent Hospital Infections

1. Get assurance that the medical staff who will be treating you has clean hands. Politely ask them if they routinely wash their hands before treating patients. Sometimes they will wash their hands right in front of you so you may not need to do this. If you are having surgery, anyone who is coughing should wear a mask or stand at least 6 feet away from you.
2. Try to avoid having a urinary catheter. This can cause a urinary tract infection which is the the most common hospital infection. The longer you have a catheter, the greater the risk for infection. Ask your doctor if it's possible to do without one.
3. Make sure you are in good health before surgery. Diabetes and obesity increase the likelihood for infections. So you should try to have these conditions under control ahead of time. Also, treat any pre-existing infections that you may already have.
4. Go with your gut feeling. If you have any questions or concerns, share them with your doctor.