How to Avoid Getting Sick in the Hospital

By Toni Olasewere, M.D., M.S.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that hospital-acquired infections account for 1.7 million infections and 99,000 deaths annually. All hospitalized patients are at risk.

The most common sites for an opportunistic hospital-acquired infection are the urinary tract (32%), a surgical site (22%), the lungs (15%) and the bloodstream (14%). Some individuals are at greater risk than others: high-risk groups include the elderly, infants, individuals with chronic illnesses such as renal failure or diabetes, those with immunocompromising conditions such as AIDS, and people with cancer.

Health-care providers can decrease the risk of these infections with strict adherence to infection-control standards. Patients can also help themselves by following these tips:

• Ask your doctor if you need to receive antibiotics prior to a scheduled surgery (these are termed “prophylactic” to prevent infection)

• Confirm that hair clippers, not razors, will be used in preparation of your surgical site.

• Ensure that your doctor and all health-care staff have washed their hands prior to contact with you. This simple infection-control measure is sometimes neglected.

• Discuss with your visitors the need to remain at home if they are ill. If they are not sick and do come to see you, ask them to wash their hands prior to contact.

Toni Olasewere, M.D., M.S., is a medical specialist for the New York City Department of Health.