Infection Prevention
Infection Prevention
Prevention is the key to stopping the spread of many infectious diseases. At Morris Hospital, we are committed to the safety of our patients through infection prevention initiatives. There are many steps our patients can take to reduce their chances of acquiring an infection during hospitalization. These same measures can be practiced to promote good health every day.
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If you have an intravenous catheter, keep the skin around the dressing clean and dry. Tell your nurse promptly if the dressing becomes loose or gets wet.
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If you have a dressing on a wound, let your nurse know promptly if it becomes loose or gets wet.
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If you have any type of catheter or drainage tube, let your nurse know promptly if it becomes loose or dislodges.
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If you have diabetes, be sure that you and your doctor discuss the best way to control your blood sugar before, during, and after your hospital stay. High blood sugar increases the risk of infection.
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If you are overweight, losing weight will reduce the risk of infection following surgery.
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If you are a smoker, you should consider a smoking cessation program. This will reduce the chance of developing a lung infection while in the hospital and may also improve your healing abilities following surgery.
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Carefully follow your doctor's instructions regarding breathing treatments.
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