01 | 3 | 2008 Posted By Regan Zambri & Long

Patient Safety Tip: Cleanliness Is Best Practice for Preventing Infections in Healthcare Settings

The single best prevention from dangerous infections -- in a medical facility or anywhere -- is cleanliness.  That's why the Joint Commission has developed the following patient safety tips regarding the prevention of hospital infections, as part of its SPEAK UP program for patients.  By speaking up and spreading accurate infection control information, rather than germs, you can help control the spread of diseases like Pneumonia, Whooping Cough, Chicken Pox, Tuberculosis and many others in medical facilities.  Next time you're visiting a medical facility:

"Clean Your Hands:   

  • Use soap and warm water.  Rub your hands really well for at least 15 seconds.
  • Or, if your hands do not look dirty, clean them with alcohol-based hand sanitizers.  Rub the sanitizer all over your hands, especially under your nails and between your fingers, until your hands are dry.
  • Clean your hands before touching or eating food.  Clean them after you use the bathroom, take out the trash, change a diaper, visit someone who is ill, or play with a pet.

Make Sure Health Care Providers Clean Their Hands and 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 if they've cleaned their hands.
  • Health care providers should wear clean gloves when they perform tasks such as taking throat cultures, pulling teeth, taking blood, touching wounds or body fluids, and examining your private parts.  Don't be afraid to gently remind them to wear gloves.

Cover Your Mouth and Nose:

  • Many diseases are spread through sneezes and coughs.  When you sneeze or cough, the germs can travel 3 feet or more!  Cover your nose and mouth to prevent the spread of infection to others.
  • Use a tissue!  Keep tissues handy at home, at work and in your pocket.  Be sure to throw away used tissues and then clean your hands. 
  • If you don't have a tissue, cover your mouth and nose with the bend of your elbow or hands.  If you use your hands, wash them right away. 

If You Are Sick, Avoid Close Contact:

  • If you are sick, stay away from other people.  Stay home if you have a fever.  Call work or school and tell them you are sick. 
  • When you go for medical treatment, call ahead and ask if there's anything you can do to avoid infecting people in the waiting room."

Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:

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