HAI Prevention for Patients/Families
Healthcare-associated infections require multiple approaches for prevention.
However, everyone can reduce the risk of getting a healthcare-associated infection,
and reduce the risk of infecting others, by taking the following steps:
1. Make sure healthcare professionals clean their hands or wear gloves.
- Doctors, nurses, dentists, and other health care providers come into contact
with lots of bacteria and viruses. So before they treat you, ask them if
they've cleaned their hands.
- Don't be afraid to ask them if they should wear gloves when performing
tasks such as taking blood or touching wounds or other openings in the body.
2. Understand your (or your loved ones') care.
- Ask your healthcare provider to explain the condition or procedure carefully, as well as the possible complications.
- Ask your healthcare provider what specific steps he/she takes to prevent infections. Make sure that the most up-to-date techniques for preventing infections are being used.
- Make sure that any devices (e.g., catheters) are removed as soon as they are no longer needed.
3. Keep hands clean.
- Wash bare hands frequently with soap and warm water, especially after changing a bandage or touching an infected wound (even if gloves are worn).
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizers may be used if hands are not visibly soiled.
- Make sure that visitors wash their hands before and after their visit.
4. Care for wounds.
- Follow your healthcare provider's instructions on proper care of the wound.
5. Do not share personal items.
- Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, washcloths, razors, clothing, blood glucose monitors, etc.
6. Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
- When you sneeze or cough, the germs can travel 3 feet or more!
- Use a tissue and clean your hands after coughing or sneezing.
- No tissue? Cover your mouth and nose with the bend of your elbow. If you use your hands - clean them right away.
7. If you are sick, avoid close contact with others.
- Stay home
- Don't shake hands or touch others
- When you go for treatment, call ahead and let them know you are ill.
8. Chose a facility that is licensed by the Virginia
Department of Health and accredited by national healthcare organizations.
Virginia Department of Health
Office of Epidemiology
109 Governor Street, Suite 516 East
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Contact us by Email
Phone: 804-864-8141 - Fax: 804-864-8139
