It is a terrifying thought that 99,000 people die each year from hospital infections. But that is the estimate from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In fact they estimate that over 1.7 million people a year develop infections while in the hospital. The death rate from these infections works out to over 270 deaths per day attributed to hospital infections. The CDC has been working for the past 10 years to bring these numbers down. Believe it or not they have had some effect the numbers were worse 10 years ago. While some hospitals are working with the CDC to make the needed changes to many are not.



The government is finally getting involved in the issue. The Bush administration has just announced that Medicare will no longer pay hospitals for the treatment of these infections. Rules passed by Congress a few years ago will not allow hospitals to bill patients for this expense. This means that the hospitals will have to absorb the cost. Private insurers are looking at adopting these policies. Also, a new law that goes into effect in 2008 will require that hospitals publish their infection rates. This is sending shockwaves through the medical community. Hopefully every hospital, doctor, nurse and medical technician will take the CDC recommendations seriously and we will see a significant drop in hospital related infections.

What can you do as a patient or family member do to help prevent these infections?

It is sad to say but you and your family are the only ones who have a vested interest in your health when you are in the hospital. Whether it is preventing an infection or just getting good quality care, it is up to you to make it happen. Most hospitals are understaffed and patient loads are too high for nurses and the various medical technicians that are responsible for patient care. This means that you have to be diligent about the quality of care you get.

The first thing you can do is make sure that everyone who comes in the room washes and sanitizes their hands. This is especially true for medical staff since they touch the patient. If they do not wash or sanitize their hands when they walk in the room ask them too.

The second thing is to watch for signs of infection. There are two types of infection to watch for local and systemic. Both can have serious side effects. A local infection is one that forms around and incision site, IV site or catheter site. A systemic infection is one that affects the whole body and is in the blood stream. Watching for the early signs of these types of infection can catch them before they become serious.

- Local infection: The signs of a local infection are redness, puss, swelling, foul odor drainage and heat around the incision, IV site or around the catheter. Especially worrisome is if there is any noticeable red or white streaking moving out away from the site. Also inspect any cut or abrasion that is the result of an accident or assault. Medical professionals should be looking at these areas several times a day and throughout the night. Remember that they are only human. Being their extra set of eyes can improve your quality of car.

- Systemic Infection: The signs of a systemic infection are fever, aches, chills, nausea, and vomiting and unexplained weakness. Typically the first sign in a hospital is fever. The best thing you can do is to not let any hospital personnel write off a fever as unimportant. This applies when you get home from the hospital. My wife nearly died from an infection after surgery because a nurse told her not to worry about the fever she developed the day she got home from the hospital.

There are some other things you can do. First of all if you smoke stop. Smokers are 3 times more likely to develop an infection than nonsmokers. Start showering with Chlorhexidine soap that you can pick up at any drug store, especially wash well the area of the surgery. On the day of the surgery remind the doctor that you need preventative antibiotics. You can also ask the doctor about keeping warm during surgery. Operating rooms are kept cold and patients who are kept warm develop fewer infections.

These few steps may seem simple but they can make a huge difference in the long term outcome of a hospital stay.