Hailey Tran
Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are a serious problem, with one in 31 hospitalized patients affected on any given day, according to the CDC. These infections can be caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and can lead to serious complications and even death. HAIs can be prevented by following hygiene best practices, such as proper hand washing, respiratory hygiene, and environmental hygiene. Patients, staff, and visitors all have a role to play in preventing the spread of infections in hospitals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hand hygiene | Wash hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub |
| Wash hands for at least 15-20 seconds | |
| Wash hands before touching patients, after using the bathroom, after being exposed to body fluids, after touching patients, after touching any elements of the environment that may be contaminated, and before clean procedures | |
| Respiratory hygiene | Cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing |
| Cough or sneeze into a tissue or into the crease of your elbow, not into the air | |
| Personal protective equipment (PPE) | Wear gloves, masks, face shields, respirators, gowns, and eye protection |
| Gloves should be removed before touching other surfaces after coming into contact with a contaminated surface | |
| Environmental hygiene | Implement a strict environmental hygiene policy that addresses various surfaces in the hospital (e.g., sheets, doorknobs, and flat surfaces), the disposal of infectious waste, and the proper disinfection and sterilization of medical devices |
| Ensure disinfecting products and hand sanitizers are available in each patient room | |
| Designate storage space for shared medical equipment | |
| Vaccination | Get vaccinated for the flu and COVID-19 according to current recommendations |
| Ask about taking antibiotic medication prior to surgery | |
| Ask about influenza and pneumonia vaccines | |
| Patient education | Educate patients and visitors about hand hygiene and other infection prevention practices |
| Advise patients and visitors to keep their hands away from their faces | |
| Remind patients and visitors to wash their hands when entering a patient's room | |
| Staff training | Train staff on proper hand-washing techniques and the use of PPE |
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What You'll Learn
Wash hands regularly with soap and water, or use alcohol-based sanitiser
Hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infections in hospitals. This includes both handwashing with soap and water and the use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers. These basic practices are essential for patients, visitors, and healthcare workers alike.
For healthcare workers, handwashing is a fundamental part of their role. It is important to wash hands before and after touching a patient, especially when dealing with an incision site or dressing, and after touching any potentially contaminated surfaces. Proper handwashing techniques involve wetting the hands and wrists, applying soap, and rubbing hands together for at least 15-20 seconds, ensuring that all parts of the hand are cleaned. This simple practice can prevent the spread of dangerous pathogens.
For patients, handwashing is also crucial. Patients should wash their hands before eating, after using the bathroom, and before and after caring for an incision site or wound. This helps prevent the spread of germs and lowers the risk of hospital-acquired infections.
Alcohol-based hand sanitiser is a useful alternative when soap and water are not readily available. It is important to ensure that hand sanitiser is accessible in each patient room, as well as in other areas of the hospital. This promotes hand hygiene and provides a simple solution to prevent the spread of infections.
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Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing
Covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs and infections. Coughing or sneezing releases thousands of tiny droplets into the air, which can spread germs to others up to eight feet away. This is especially problematic in hospitals, where patients are already unwell and may have weakened immune systems. Therefore, it is important to cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing to protect others from potential infection.
The best way to cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing is to use a tissue. Cover your nose and mouth with the tissue, then throw it away in a bin and wash your hands. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or the crook of your elbow. Avoid coughing or sneezing into your hands, as this will spread germs onto everything you touch. It is also not advisable to cough or sneeze into a handkerchief, t-shirt sleeve, or any other non-disposable item, as these can become breeding grounds for germs.
If you are sick, wearing a mask can help to reduce the risk of spreading germs when you cough, sneeze, or talk. Masks should cover your mouth and nose, with no gaps between the mask and your face. It is important to avoid touching the mask, and to replace it if it gets damp. Used masks should be discarded immediately in a closed bin, and hands should be disinfected after removing the mask. However, it is important to note that unwashed reusable masks can increase the spread of germs, as they trap germs in the fabric where they multiply.
In addition to covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing, there are other measures you can take to prevent infections in hospitals. These include regular handwashing with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer, especially before eating, after using the bathroom, and before touching any dressings, stitches, or catheters. Visitors and healthcare providers should also be reminded to wash their hands before entering a patient's room. Vaccines can also help to prevent the spread of infections, although there is a small chance that infections could be spread for a short time after certain types of vaccination.
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Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce pathogen transmission
Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) is crucial to reducing pathogen transmission in hospital settings. PPE encompasses a range of equipment and clothing designed to safeguard healthcare workers and patients from infectious materials. This includes items such as facemasks, respirators, eye protection, gowns, and gloves, and even ear protection in certain situations.
Facemasks are a key component of PPE, acting as a barrier to prevent pathogens from entering the mouth or nose, either physically or through respiration. Respirators, such as the filtering facepiece respirator, offer additional protection by filtering the air breathed by the wearer, reducing the risk of inhaling harmful pathogens.
Eye protection, such as goggles or face shields, is essential to safeguard the eyes from exposure to infectious materials, particularly during procedures or activities that may generate splashes or sprays of bodily fluids. Gowns and gloves provide a protective barrier for the body and hands, respectively, reducing the risk of contamination and the transmission of pathogens through contact.
It is important to note that the effectiveness of PPE relies on proper usage and adherence to protocols. This includes donning and doffing procedures, regular handwashing before and after use, and ensuring the correct type of PPE is selected for the specific task and environment. Additionally, it is crucial to inspect PPE for defects before use and report any concerns to the appropriate personnel.
PPE should be changed regularly, especially when transitioning between different patients or tasks. This helps prevent the spread of pathogens and reduces the risk of cross-contamination. In certain high-risk situations, such as caring for patients with infectious diseases like COVID-19 or Ebola, healthcare facilities may implement specific guidelines and protocols for PPE usage to ensure the safety of both healthcare workers and patients.
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Clean surfaces and medical devices to prevent environmental contamination
Clean surfaces and medical devices are essential to preventing environmental contamination and reducing the risk of hospital-acquired infections. Here are some strategies and guidelines for maintaining a clean environment in hospitals:
Cleaning Surfaces:
Hospitals must prioritize maintaining clean surfaces to ensure patient safety and reduce the spread of infections. This includes regularly cleaning and disinfecting environmental surfaces in patient care areas, such as floors, walls, and high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, bed rails, and light switches. Hospitals should implement standardized cleaning protocols and ensure that cleaning supplies are easily accessible to staff.
Disinfectant Selection and Use:
The selection of appropriate disinfectants is crucial. Hospitals should choose disinfectants with proven effectiveness against healthcare-associated pathogens and follow the manufacturer's recommendations for their use. Improved hydrogen peroxide-based liquid surface disinfectants and combinations containing peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide are effective alternatives. Additionally, creating "self-disinfecting" surfaces by coating them with metals like copper or silver can be explored.
Medical Device Disinfection:
Medical equipment and devices, such as catheters and ventilators, can be a source of infection if not properly cleaned and disinfected. Hospitals should establish clear policies and procedures for the appropriate disinfection of medical devices, ensuring compatibility with the equipment. This includes reviewing instructions for use and paying attention to small crevices or surfaces that may be difficult to clean.
Training and Education:
All personnel responsible for cleaning and disinfection must be adequately trained and educated. This includes understanding hospital disinfection policies, basic infection control concepts, and the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning technologies. Training should be standardized, sustainable, and regularly updated to ensure a consistent level of knowledge among staff.
No-Touch Technologies:
Implementing "no-touch" or automated decontamination technologies can enhance infection prevention efforts. These technologies, such as aerosol and vaporized hydrogen peroxide systems or mobile devices emitting continuous ultraviolet (UV-C) light, reduce the need for manual cleaning and disinfection, minimizing the risk of human error and improving overall effectiveness.
By following these strategies and maintaining clean surfaces and medical devices, hospitals can significantly reduce environmental contamination and better protect patients, visitors, and healthcare personnel from infections.
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Vaccinate against the flu and COVID-19
Vaccination is a highly effective way to prevent the spread of infections in hospitals. Vaccines prevent the spread of infection, and while there is a small chance that the infection could be spread for a short time after certain types of vaccination, the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks.
The flu and COVID-19 are two infections that can be easily prevented through vaccination. The flu vaccine is recommended annually by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for nearly everyone aged 6 months and older. The flu can easily spread from person to person, and even a mild case of the flu can be life-threatening for patients with weakened immune systems. By getting the flu vaccine, you can protect yourself and others from serious illness and hospitalization due to the flu.
Similarly, the COVID-19 vaccine is crucial in preventing the spread of COVID-19 infection. The CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older receive the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness caused by currently circulating variants. COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease, and vaccination is a safer and more reliable way to build protection than getting infected. The vaccine helps protect against severe illness, hospitalization, and death, especially for those who are older, at high risk, or have never been vaccinated or infected before.
It is important to stay up to date with your vaccinations, as vaccine protection decreases over time. For COVID-19, the CDC recommends that eligible patients receive the updated 2024-2025 vaccine at least two months after their last dose of the previous vaccine. By staying current with your flu and COVID-19 vaccinations, you can play a vital role in preventing the spread of these infections in hospitals and protecting vulnerable patient populations.
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Frequently asked questions
If you are a patient in the hospital, make sure all staff members and visitors wash or disinfect their hands before they touch you. If you have had surgery, do not let anyone touch your incision site or dressing. Wash your hands before and after caring for your incision site.
If you think you may have been exposed to an infection, do not visit. If you are visiting, keep your hands away from your face and wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub before you enter and when you leave. Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.
Healthcare workers should follow hygiene best practices, including observing proper hand hygiene by thoroughly washing their hands before touching patients, after being exposed to body fluids, after touching patients, after touching any elements of the environment that may be contaminated, and before clean procedures. They should also wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce the transmission of pathogens.
Hospitals should ensure that staff are trained on proper hand-washing techniques and wearing approved PPE. Hospitals should also implement strict environmental hygiene policies that address the various surfaces in the hospital, the disposal of infectious waste, and the proper disinfection and sterilization of medical devices.
