Infection Control

What you need to know

Healthcare associated infections such as MRSA and Clostridium Difficile are one of the biggest issues facing the health service today. Health organisations are working very hard, and successfully, to reduce the number of infections occurring and spreading in healthcare settings, but to help improve the situation even further, it's vital the public understands it has a role to play.

The most important issue is to only have antibiotics when you really need them. Too many antibiotics are prescribed at present and these can cause bugs such as Clostridium Difficile to become resistant to treatment. Coughs and colds rarely need antibiotics.

Another most important issue is personal hygiene. This is crucial - so if you see someone not washing their hands after they have been to the loo, tell them!

Hand washing

It's extremely important that people maintain high standards of hand hygiene if we are to reduce the spread of infection. Frequent hand washing with soap and warm water should remove germs from hands before they are transferred to another person or item.

You should always wash your hands:

after using the toilet
before handling, preparing, serving or eating food
if your hands look dirty
after handling any pets or other animals
after any cleaning/housework
after gardening

If a healthcare professional needs to examine you or perform some sort of medical procedure, don't be afraid to ask them if they've washed their hands.

Your personal hygiene while in hospital

If you have to enter hospital as an in-patient, bring all your personal toiletries including soap, flannel and a towel with you. Men should take their own personal razor for shaving.

If you have to stay in bed, having some moist hand wipes will ensure you are always able to clean your hands before eating and drinking.

If you need to use a commode, ask for water to wash your hands or use moist hand wipes.

Help the cleaning staff to be able to clean your locker by trying to keep it free of clutter.

Avoid touching your wounds, drips, catheters or other tubes.

If you have an intravenous cannula (line or drip) and you start to suffer pain, swelling or redness around the site or the area feels hot to the touch or you feel hot or cold or shivery or if the dressing is wet, soiled or falls off, inform a nurse immediately.

Hospital staff should wash their hands or clean them with an alcohol hand rub. If you are in any doubt, ask them if they have washed their hands.

Your visitors should also practice good hand hygiene and not visit at all if they are ill themselves with, for example, diarrhoea and vomiting. If they are not sure whether they are well enought to visit, they should contact the ward beforehand for an opinion.

Finally, if you have any concerns about the cleanliness of your ward, speak to the nurse in charge.