How can patients help prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)?

How can patients help prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)?

You and your family can help make sure you’re doing as much as possible to keep you safe from HAIs. Take the following steps:

• Keep your hands clean. Regular hand washing is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent spreading germs. Ask anyone who will be touching you to wash their hands first.
• Ask your healthcare workers what they're doing to keep you safe from infection. Don’t be afraid to speak up.
• Ask your doctor what the healthcare team does to prevent infection during and after surgery. Ask how you can prepare for surgery to help prevent infection.
• If you have a catheter, ask each day if it’s necessary.
• Ask if tests will be done to make sure you are prescribed the correct antibiotic. Take antibiotics only when your provider thinks you need them. Ask if your antibiotic is necessary. If you take antibiotics when you don’t need them, you’re only exposing yourself to unnecessary risk of side effects and potentially serious infections in the future. If you do need antibiotics, take them exactly as they’re prescribed.
• Recognize the signs of skin infection. Redness, draining, or pain around the surgical or catheter insertion sites are signs of infection. These symptoms often come with a fever. Tell your doctor right away if you have these symptoms.
• Get a flu shot and other necessary vaccinations to avoid complications later.
• Watch for diarrhea, which can be deadly with the C. diff infection. If you have diarrhea three or more times in 24 hours, tell your doctor, especially if you're taking an antibiotic.