Preventing Infection – A Guide for You

Preventing Infection – A Guide for You

Jan 04, 2019

At Ascent ER, we treat many patients who have infections due to various reasons. Many infections can be treated quickly, but situations can arise where the infection can be much more serious.

There are many drug-resistant organisms we must do our best to avoid as well. MRSA, VRE, and many multi-drug resistant bacteria. Many bacteria are becoming resistant to the antibiotics we have in our arsenal to fight them and consequently have become responsible for mortality rates to rise. It goes back to good antibiotic stewardship. When your doctor prescribes you antibiotics, please take all of them. This is so that no new resistant strains can form from taking only a few of the antibiotics you were prescribed. It can be tempting to stop when symptoms go away, but this leaves some bacteria behind, causing them to become resistant to that antibiotic.

Bacteria are smart and has been here on earth long before we were. They can remake themselves in many ways to become resistant to just about anything they are subjected.

In this day and time, Ascent ER is trying to cover every helpful tip it can on how you can lower your risk of any infection. We hope by reading this article, you will learn something helpful for you and your loved ones today.

Keeping Your Hands Clean

Most infections are spread by lack of proper handwashing or no handwashing whatsoever. It is recommended that you wash your hands often and in the appropriate way. You need to scrub and rub your hands together for 15 seconds or more, rubbing your palms, the backs of your hands, up above your wrists, and your fingernails. Scrubbing and rubbing will slough off the epithelial cells that are holding onto the bacteria hiding on your skin.

If there is no soap and water available, alcohol-based sanitizers are an excellent option, but they must be used to cover all of your hands and include your fingernails. Let it dry, do not wipe it off.

It is necessary to clean or even better to wash your hands before you ever eat anything, after visiting a person who is ill, after taking out your trash, and after you use the bathroom.

Avoid touching certain surfaces in public places where others have touched. Such as door handles or doorknobs, pens used to sign in at doctors offices, public drinking fountains, counters or tabletops in restaurants until they have been cleaned thoroughly, backs of chairs when you pull them out from a table, your telephone unless you have a rigorous cleaning schedule, and if you’re a woman, multiple surfaces of your purse need to be wiped down often with alcohol wipes.

Your Mouth and Nose Should Be Covered

Some germs can travel up to four to six feet when you laugh, talk, cough or sneeze. When you add hand contact to the germs, many infections and diseases are spread by sneezing and coughing, which is the reason for always covering your nose and mouth when you do. It is best to cover your nose and mouth with tissues when you sneeze or cough, but sometimes it can happen so fast that you can’t always pull out a Kleenex. Make sure you wash your hands well after coughing or sneezing.

If you are sick, avoid other people. If you feel like you are coming down with something, then rest and stay to yourself. If you have plans with a friend and find out, they are not feeling well, cancel the plans and do it another time. Do not spread germs. It can only result in misery for someone.

Vaccines Are Important

Getting vaccinated reduces the risk of transmitting or catching diseases and infections. Currently available vaccines include:

  • (HPV) Human Papillomavirus
  • Rubella (German Measles)
  • Pneumonia (Streptococcus pneumoniae)
  • Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
  • Flu (Influenza)
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Mumps
  • Shingles
  • Meningitis
  • Tetanus
  • Measles
  • Chickenpox

If you are currently suffering from an infection, please call us here at Ascent ER, and we will be glad to help you in any way we can.

 

Are you looking for an emergency room in Houston, TX? At Ascent Emergency Room, we care about your health and their emergency needs. We are located just a little away from you and provide exceptional and comprehensive emergency care appointments for the surrounding Houston area:

  • (Southampton) University Place
  • Rice Village
  • Bellaire
  • Old Braeswood
  • Gridiron
  • Brookhaven
  • Southside
  • Riverside Terrace
  • Greater Third Ward
  • Greater Eastwood
  • East Downtown
  • Midtown
  • Montrose
  • Westmoreland Houston
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