Infection Prevention Brochure

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What if I am admitted with

an infection?
atients/residents who have a contagious
or catching infection may need to be
placed in a private room to prevent
the spread of germs.

Our commitment to you


he staff who work at Riverview
Health Centre care about you and
are committed to doing everything
possible to help prevent infections from
occurring while you are here.

We hope this pamphlet helps you and


your visitors to understand your role and the
staffs role in providing a safe environment.

Other ways YOU can help


1. Wash your hands often and well.
2. Remind anyone, including staff and visitors
entering your room, to wash their hands
with soap or waterless hand rinse before
touching or caring for you.

Thank you for helping to make Riverview


Health Centre a safer place for everyone.
IF YOU

HAVE A QUESTION:

The Infection Control Nurse can speak


to you about specific infection prevention and
control questions you may have.

3. Ask friends or family who are sick


including children not to visit.
4. Ask visitors to closely supervise small
children.
5. Ask your doctor about your special
vaccination needs. Get a yearly influenza
vaccination.
6. Try to follow Canadas Guide to Healthy
Eating.
7. Get a proper amount of sleep to help the
healing process.
HELP US HELP YOU

For more information contact:


Infection Control Nurse
Ph: (204) 478-6172

Infection Prevention
and Control for
Patients & Residents

Riverview Health Centre


One Morley Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3L 2P4
www.riverviewhealthcentre.com
This pamphlet was adapted from Sunnybrook &
Womens Infection Prevention & Control Service.
5/11

Infection
Prevention & Control

t Riverview Health Centre, staff


use the following precautions for all
patients/residents so that germs are
not transmitted between them:

n Prevention is important because germs can


make your hospital stay longer. Infections
may be inconvenient, cause additional illness
and be accidentally passed on to others.

for Patients & Residents


Tips to Decrease Your
Risk of Infection
WHAT

Heres what WE do to help

Why is infection prevention


so important?

n Washing or using a waterless hand rinse


on our hands before and after direct
patient contact.

n The elderly, patients/residents with poor


nutrition who are taking antibiotics, steroids
or cancer medication, and patients/residents
who are already seriously ill are most at
risk of infection.

CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

Hand washing is the most important way to


prevent the spread of germs. Wash your hands:

n Wearing protective clothing, such as masks,


gloves and gowns, when appropriate. Hands
are washed when gloves are removed.
n Disposing of used needles is handled
carefully.

n after using the toilet

What is a Nosocomial Infection?

n after blowing your nose


n before and after you touch your
bandage or a wound
n before and after eating and drinking
n when your hands are dirty

All members of the health care team


follow careful routines to lower your risk of
infection. This includes housekeeping, food
handlers, lab staff and many others.

n Most of these infections are caused by


your own germs. These may make you
sick when you are already weakened by
other illness.

Family and friends who visit you should also


wash their hands at these times.
GERMS ARE

Your nurse or physiotherapist may


perform procedures or help you with exercises
to decrease your risk of infections such as
pneumonia.

n This is an infection that can result from


being in a hospital environment. Examples
include pneumonia, bladder or kidney
infections or skin infections.

EVERYWHERE:

n Germs cant be seen without a microscope,


but they are all over on our hands, in our
noses, mouths, bowels and on surfaces in
the environment.

Riverview Health Centre has specific


policies that require us to check patients/
residents for the presence of Antibiotic
Resistant Organisms (germs.)

n The risk of infection is always present, but


steps can be taken to significantly lower
the risk.

n Most germs that live with us on us and


in us do not normally cause harm. Some
germs help digest food. Only a few types
of germs cause infections, and then only in
some people.
n

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