Patient Guide
Key Information for Your Stay
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. The chart below lists common infections and steps you can take to prevent them.
Pressure Ulcers
At admission, the condition of each patient’s skin is assessed to identify skin breakdown or the potential for skin breakdown, such as pressure ulcers or bedsores. Specific actions can be taken to prevent or treat identified skin issues, including frequent re-positioning and turning in bed.
Superbugs
A superbug is a germ that causes a bacterial, viral or fungal infection but doesn’t respond to usual treatments. These bugs make you sicker longer and increase your risk of serious complications. Common strains include MRSA, E. coli, C. diff and VRE. Superbugs spread from person to person by touching hands or objects. Learn how to protect yourself with the prevention tips on 5 Ways to Fight Infections.
Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Germs enter your urinary tract while using a tube to drain urine
- fever
- burning
- pain
- bloody or frequent urination
- clean hands before touching area
- keep urine bag below level of bladder to prevent backflow
- don’t tug, pull, twist or bend the tube
- secure catheter to your leg and ask every day if it’s still needed
- drink plenty of water or cranberry juice daily (fluids help flush your urinary tract)
- wipe from front to back (if you are female), reducing the germs that will spread from your rectum into your urinary tract
- ask that catheter tube be removed as soon as possible
Surgical Site Infection
Germs affect the site of your surgery—either on your skin or internally
- redness
- pain
- drainage of cloudy fluid
- fever
- clean hands before touching area
- ask your nurse to show you how to care for your wound
- before surgery:
- keep your blood sugar under control
- keep warm
- stop smoking
- do not shave (irritation increases risk of infection)
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 area
- make sure staff wears gloves, gown, cap, mask and sterile drape when handling tube
- speak up if your bandage comes loose, looks wet or dirty, or if your skin looks sore
- avoid touching tube or letting visitors touch tube
- ask that 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
- mucus
- fever
- chills
- shortness of breath
- clean hands before touching 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 tube be removed as soon as possible