Hospital Aquired Infections

Hospital Aquired Infections refers to any infection that occurs during a patients stay in hospital. They have recieved a lot of media attention in recent years with increasing numbers of media reports about MRSA, hospital cleanliness and standards of hygiene on their wards. These have contributed to increase the anxiety of patients and the public about the possiblerisks of staying in hospital.

Its worth remembering that while 5 - 10% of patients pickup an infection during their stay in hospital, serious infections are rare.

The best thing to do is discuss any issue or concerns you may have before you're admitted. The hospital will have a member of staff available to talk to you, possibly the nurse in charge of your care. You can also ask to talk to your GP or doctor.

Hand Hygiene The chances of developing some infections can be significantly reduced if healthcare staff were to clean their hands before and after examining every patient. However, for a number of reasons, including time pressures on staff, this does not always happen. Talk to the ward staff upon your arrival. Mention the advice this leaflet gives and that you will ask them whether they have washed their hands before every examination. Ask the healthcare staff who come to examine you if they have washed their hands or used the alcohol rub that should be available on every ward. Remember that there is no need to feel embarrassed or awkward about requesting that staff clean their hands. Hospitals that have taken part in the ‘Clean your hands’ campaign actively encourage their staff, patients and visitors to do this. The same advice for hand-hygiene also applies to visitors providing personal care, such as bathing, washing, dressing, helping to feed and toileting for the patient.

Other things to remember:

• Antibiotics – do tell your doctor or nurse if you’ve been taking antibiotics prior to your admission to hospital. This will have a bearing on the treatment given to you in the event of an infection developing.

• Limiting visitors – Try and ensure you have no more than two or three visitors at any one time. Friends and family who are ill e.g. suffering from coughs and colds, or diarrhoea and/or vomiting should certainly stay away. If they are unsure, you should advise them to ‘phone the Ward and ask a nurse for advice’.

• Limiting visitors – Please heed the requests of staff for visitors to leave, for example if you need to be examined, have your dressing changed or your ward area needs to be cleaned. • It is sensible to take children only if absolutely necessary and important that they are kept under control by an adult visitor. Children moving around the ward increase the risk of infection through cross-contamination – speak to the person in charge regarding the appropriateness of children visiting the ward.

• Food storage – it is important to be aware of your local NHS Trust’s food storage policy. Many do not have the capacity to keep food fresh for more than 24 hours so please bear this in mind if you wish to bring in, or have visitors bring in, food to the hospital. If the hospital policy states it, then staff must be informed when food is brought in for you. Please ask a nurse on the ward for advice.

• Infected Laundry – if you have an infection before going into hospital or develop one, then staff should place your clothing in a sealed bag and give you instructions on how to clean it. You should arrange for this to be taken home the same day or as soon as possible to wash. If you do not have anyone to do this for you, then talk to a member of staff. The hospital may be able to make alternative arrangements.

If you are in isolation

• You may be advised of your need to be treated in isolation or through the use of standard precautions. If this is the case, the rules that need to be followed during a visit will be stricter.

• Patients may be isolated or barrier-nursed either to help prevent the spread of infection to others or to help prevent vulnerable patients acquiring an infection e.g. when taking some form of chemotherapy. In some cases they may be placed in single rooms or cubicles. It is always best to ask the hospital staff caring for the patient about the procedures to follow while visiting. These should include some or all of the following:

• Hand hygiene

• Limiting visitors

• Keeping doors closed

• Wearing protective clothing e.g. aprons and gloves.

Once again, it is important to emphasise the need to talk through these procedures with a nurse or doctor at the hospital.

Please also remember that serious infections are rare and most are easily treatable. Again, if you have any concerns, then please talk to a healthcare professional. They will be able to answer your queries.

Further information:

• The National Public Health Service: www.nphs.wales.nhs.uk

• Health Protection Agency www.hpa.org.uk

• Association of Medical microbiologists www.amm.co.uk

• The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) also has a website for patients with helpful information about going into hospital. www.npsa.nhs.uk

• For infection rates in Wales and information on the Welsh Healthcare Associated Infection Programme, please visit www.wales.nhs.uk/whaip

Thank you for reading and remember to stay safe x