Guide to Hospital Acquired Infections Brought to You by The MATER PRIVATE HOSPITAL.
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In 2007, the Dept of Health & Children set up an independent authority to monitor hygiene and infection in our healthcare facilities (The
Health Information & Quality Authority) to drive improvements in Irish healthcare. The Health Act of 2007 provides legislation giving HIQA the authority to inspect and if necessary close facilities they feel are unsafe for patients.
Under this Act CEO’s are ultimately responsible for Hygiene and Hand Washing Standards in their hospitals. However, every healthcare worker, patient and visitor has a responsibility to prevent transmission of infection. Never visit people in hospitals if you have an infection such as a “tummy bug” or “flu”.
What patients can do to avoid MRSA infection ?
In general, healthy people are at a low risk of contracting a HAI like
MRSA or
C. difficile, including pregnant women and children, but if you are going into hospital there are several things you can do to protect yourself, and reduce your chances of contracting an infection in hospital.
Before going into hospital start using a bactericidal soap and shampoo and continue while there, always washing or cleaning your hands after visits to the bathroom and before/after meals and wearing shoes or slippers when walking around.
If you feel that the area around your hospital bed looks unclean, insist that it is cleaned. As a patient you have the right to ask whether your doctor or nurse has washed their hands before they touch you, and you can also help protect yourself by not touching your wounds or any damaged skin and regularly washing your hands to prevent self-infection. Try not to get too close to other patients and avoid all contact with other people's wounds or with material contaminated from wounds prior to being taken for surgery and never use the toilets if they are unclean - go and report them to staff.
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