Page 19 - Florida Sentinel 8-30-19

Health
less often than scrubs.
BEDS AND SHEETS
Exactly how sanitary is your hospital room? Researchers say that the usual cleaning between patients doesn’t always remove the germs from mattresses. Fun- gal infections at one pediatric fa-
cility were traced back to bed linens. Privacy curtains and handrails on beds are other places pathogens can linger.
ULTRASOUND EQUIPMENT
Researchers who looked at ul- trasound equipment found bacte- ria nearly everywhere: the probe, cord, control knobs, computer keyboard, gel, and its bottle. Even when the part that touches you is covered by plastic, the rest of the tool probably wasn’t disinfected between patients. It’s possible a health care worker could pick up germs and pass them to you.
HANDS
Clean hands are important to control the spread of germs. But health care workers, on average, sanitize theirs less than half the times they should, researchers have found. That raises the risk of infection when you visit your doc- tor’s office or a hospital. What can you do? Ask your provider to wash up before treating you.
WAITING ROOM TOYS
In your child’s pediatrician’s office, the books, games, and toys in the waiting room can carry the same germs as the kids that touch them. Stuffed animals may be the worst offenders, because they are harder to clean. Your best bet? Bring a plaything from home to keep kids occupied during the wait.
STETHOSCOPES
Your health care provider’s stethoscope could be covered in bacteria, including some that are resistant to antibiotics. In one study, more than half of workers had never cleaned this standard piece of equipment. Your risk of getting an infection this way is probably low. But the odds drop even more if the diaphragm -- the part that touches your skin -- is
sanitized.
COATS AND TIES
Though the classic image of a doctor in a white coat may comfort some people, the outfit also pro- vides a friendly environment for microbes. One study found that doctors’ ties harbored bacteria. The white coat is often contami- nated as well. One possible expla- nation: People clean those items
FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 7-B