Page 28 - CHI ST LUKES VINTAGE HOSPITAL PATIENT GUIDE

FOCUS ON HEALTH-INFECTION Six Ways To 4. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS Let’s Go Over The
Help Prevent OF INFECTION. See the chart on Most Common
Hospital-Acquired this page to help you identify the Hospital Infections
Infection: symptoms of infection and tell
your doctor if you have any of Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAI)
1. SPEAK UP!™ Talk to your doctor these symptoms. are infections that occur during your
about any questions or worries stay in the hospital. Be aware of the
you have about your care and 5. TREAT DIARRHEA SERIOUSLY.
hospital infection. Tell your doctor if you have 3 or most common infections, their
more diarrhea episodes in 24 hours, symptoms and take steps to
2. KEEP HANDS CLEAN. Be sure especially if you have been taking reduce your risks of HAI
everyone cleans their hands before an antibiotic. during your hospital stay.
touching you.
6. PROTECT YOURSELF. Get Courtesy U.S. National Library of
3. GET SMART ABOUT ANTIBIOTICS. vaccinated against flu and other Medicine and Centers for Disease
Ask about tests to be sure the right infections to avoid complications. Control and Prevention
antibiotic is prescribed.

Central Line Catheter Surgical Site Ventilator-
Associated Associated Urinary Infection Associated
Bloodstream Tract Infection Pneumonia
Infection

HOW INFECTION BEGINS HOW INFECTION BEGINS HOW INFECTION BEGINS HOW INFECTION BEGINS
• Bacteria or other • Germs enter the urinary • Either internally at the site • Germs enter the
germs travel down a tract through the of the surgery or on the lungs through the
central line and enter catheter tube skin at the surgery site ventilator tube
the blood
SYMPTOMS TO LOOK FOR SYMPTOMS TO LOOK FOR SYMPTOMS TO LOOK FOR
SYMPTOMS TO LOOK FOR • Fever, burning, or pain in • Fever, redness, and pain • Cough with
• Fevers and chills, or the the lower abdomen around surgical site or discolored phlegm
skin around the central • Bloody, burning, or drainage of cloudy fluid • Fever and chills
line may become sore frequent urination from surgical wound • Shortness of breath
and red
PREVENTION PREVENTION PREVENTION
PREVENTION
• Avoid touching the area • Avoid touching the area • Avoid touching the
• Avoid touching the area • Clean hands before • Not smoking just a few ventilator tube
• Be sure that all staff
touching the catheter days or hours before • You, your family
clean their hands, wear and avoid touching the surgery can help reduce members & visitors
a mask, cap, sterile area when unnecessary your risk of infection should wash hands
gloves, gown and • Empty the bag • Do not shave near often
drape while handling regularly surgery site, it can
your central line • Make sure the catheter irritate your skin and • Ask if it is safe
• Have your central line is securely attached encourage infection to raise the head
removed as soon as to the leg to prevent • Clean hands before of the bed
possible twisting, kinking or touching the surgical
• If the bandage gets tugging at the tube wound or dressings and • Ask to have the
wet or dirty, tell • Keep the bag lower avoid touching the area ventilator removed
your nurse or doctor than the bladder to • Know how to care as soon as possible
immediately prevent urine from for your wound and
• Know how to care for back flow dressings before leaving • Be aware of how
the catheter before the hospital often your mouth
leaving the hospital should be cleaned
and tell staff if it is
14 not done regularly