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Preventing Infections While in the Hospital
Preventing infections is very important in helping patients recover quickly. Here are some tips on how you can help prevent an infection:
- Wash hands with soap and water and rub together for at least 15 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand gel.
- If you have a dressing on a wound, tell your nurse if it is loose or wet.
- If you have an intravenous catheter (IV), keep the dressing clean and dry. Tell your nurse if the IV site is loose, wet, red, or painful.
- If you have a urinary catheter or drainage tube, tell your nurse if it is loose or comes out.
- To prevent pneumonia, carefully follow instructions on breathing treatments.
- Smoking can lead to infections. If you smoke and need help to stop, please let your nurse know. This is a non-smoking hospital.
- If you have diabetes, be sure to ask your doctor about the best way to control your blood sugar. High blood sugar can increase the risk of infection.
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