News headlines are full of stories about the flu, CRE, and measles. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has shown that Clostridium difficile infections (C.diff), have more than doubled in the last few years. How do you prevent a fatal infection from spreading if you or your loved one need to be admitted to the hospital?
It’s not difficult to see that infections can be caused by microorganisms such as C.diff and MRSA. These antibiotic-resistant germs are found on high-touch surfaces in hospitals, health care facilities, and can even live for months on tray tables or bedrails. What are the best ways to prevent getting sick from newer and more dangerous bacteria and viruses?
1. Superbugs can be found in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and even surgery centers. Research shows that even after thorough manual cleaning, half of rooms are still infected enough to spread infection.
2. 2.Do you really need this antibiotic? Is that the right antibiotic? Avoid using antibiotics for viral diseases, and do not insist on them for children with viral infections. Proton-pump inhibitors and broad-spectrum antibiotics are helpful in C.diff reproduction.
3. Do your research on the hospital you are being treated. Check out the safety record of patients at the hospital. It is a good resource. www.hospitalsafetyscore.org. Its infection rates are available at www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov.
4. Hand hygiene could save your life. Hand hygiene can save your life.
5. Superbugs can easily be eradicated before they infect patients. It is important to properly disinfect a patient room. XenexThe germ-zapping robot takes only 10 minutes to increase room turnover. Hospitals using Xenex UV laser robots report significant reductions in hospital acquired infections rates. Make sure that the hospital room is properly disinfected if you or your loved one are going. Use Xenex germ zapping robots to disinfect hospital rooms.
Although new antibiotics may be part the solution to the superbug epidemic, it’s important to get the germs out as quickly as possible. It takes only minutes and could save your life. Visit www.xenex.comLearn more
