Infection Control for patients and families
Maintaining a safe hospital environment is very important. Germs and infections can travel from patient to patient, from patient to staff or from staff to patient. To prevent the spread of infection, our staff will use "standard precautions."
Members of your health care team may wear gloves, gowns, masks, or eye protection, all of which are standard precautions practice to protect you and your visitors.
Fortunately, all patient rooms at PBMC are private rooms, a fact that helps to limit the spread of infection. But if there is a known or suspected infection, you may be placed on isolation precautions. These isolation precautions are important to stop the spread of some infections and may include:
Protective clothing worn by staff and visitors, such as gloves, gowns or masks
Special equipment that stays in your room
Limited movement in and out of your room
Hand hygiene for patients, staff and visitors.
Hand Hygiene
The single most important step to prevent the spread of germs and infection is hand washing. Patients are encouraged to practice good hand hygiene during their hospital stay. All health care staff must wash their hands before providing care to any patient. Visitors too should wash their hands before and after visiting a patient.
Antibiotics Safety
Antibiotics are generally safe and very helpful in fighting disease, but if antibiotics are used too often or inappropriately for viral infections, resistance may develop. When resistance develops, the antibiotic is not able to kill the germs causing the infection. Antibiotic resistance is becoming a very big problem in the world today.
Immunizations
For your protection, keep current with your immunizations. The influenza (flu) and pneumonia vaccination can protect you from becoming seriously ill from the flu or pneumonia. Discuss the vaccinations with your doctor to see if they would be beneficial in protecting your health.
PBMC is committed to the national patient safety goal of reducing your risk of developing a health care associated infection. We encourage you and your family to make sure that our care meets your needs.
If you have questions, please ask your nurse or doctor. If you would like to contact the Infection Control nurse, please tell your nurse.