Other Infections

Bloodstream Infections

Frequently, a person with an infection at one body site will develop a bacterial infection into the blood stream.He or she is usually described as ‘septic’.  He or she may or may not have a fever.The infection may come from the lungs (pneumonia), urinary tract (bladder or kidney), or a skin site. Prevention measures include:use of sterile equipment for invasive procedures (tests or treatments which invade the skin), keep IV sites and dressings clean, keep existing infections from becoming severe by appropriate antibiotics, cleansing of wounds, etc.; sterile technique during procedures;and good hand washing.

Pneumonia

Many persons come to the healthcare setting suffering from pneumonia.The infection control practitioner's concern is to prevent the spread of pneumonia to per sons who do not have an infection but have procedures performed or have low immunity to infection. Examples of this include:car accident victims who have damage to the chest, stroke patients, persons who undergo extensive surgery, very obese persons, or persons with cancer receiving chemotherapy. Prevention measures include:get the person out of bed and active as soon as possible, boost their immune system (with good nutrition and rest), use sterile/clean equipment, use caution when giving tube feedings, and good hand washing.

Urinary Tract Infections

Infections that occur in the bladder or kidneys due to healthcare are usually caused by foley catheters or surgical procedures (such as placement of a scope into the bladder). Prevention measures include:use the catheter as a last resort, leave the catheter in only the amount of time absolutely necessary, use sterile technique during catheter insertion and surgical procedures (with sterile equipment only).