Injured Senior Podcast

Hospital Infections: 14 Tips To Lessen Your Risk with Steven Heisler, Esq.

Episode Summary

Hospital infections are definitely a serious, significant problem especially in the elderly and aging population communities. According to a study done by the National Institute of Health, the risk of developing a healthcare-associated infection increases with age. Join Steven Heisler on the newest episode of The Injured Senior Podcast as he shares the 14 ways to reduce your chance of getting hospital infection.

Episode Notes

Hospital infections are definitely a serious, significant problem especially in the elderly and aging population communities. According to a study done by the National Institute of Health, the risk of developing a healthcare-associated infection increases with age. Join Steven Heisler on the newest episode of The Injured Senior Podcast as he shares the 14 ways to reduce your chance of getting hospital infection. 

  1. Ask the hospital staff to clean their hands before treating you and ask visitors to do the same.
  2. Before your doctor uses a stethoscope on you, ask them to wipe the diaphragm with alcohol.
  3. If you are required to have a central line catheter, ask your doctor about the benefits of a central line catheter that is antibiotic-impregnated or silver chlorohexidine-coated to reduce infection.
  4. If you need surgery, choose a doctor with a low infection rate.
  5. Three to five days before your surgery, shower or bathe daily with chlorhexidine soap.
  6. Ask your doctor to have you tested for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA.
  7. Stop smoking long before you have surgery.
  8. On the day of surgery, remind your doctor that you may need an antibiotic one hour before the first incision.
  9. Ask your doctor to keep you warm during the surgery.
  10. Do not shave the surgical site.
  11. Avoid touching your mouth and do not set food or utensils on furniture or bedsheets.
  12. Ask your doctor to monitor your glucose levels.
  13. Avoid a urinary tract catheter if possible.
  14. If you must have an IV, make sure that it's inserted and removed under clean and sanitary conditions and changed every three to four hours.

The 14 tips are courtesy of the Committee To Reduce Infection Deaths: www.hospitalinfection.org

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