3
Steps to Prevent HAIs
Practice good hand hygiene:
Hands are the most common way that germs spread in the hospital.
Everyone in the hospital – healthcare personnel, patients, and visitors –
should clean their hands often.
• In most situations, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean your
hands. Hand sanitizer comes as liquid, gel, or foam and is available
from dispensers located throughout the hospital.
• Wash hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, when
they are visibly dirty, and before touching food or drinks.
• Clean hands before entering and after exiting a patient's room, after
sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose, and before touching food
or drinks.
Patient prompts:
"Where is the hand sanitizer dispenser?"
"How can I clean my hands from my bed?"
"Are there any special instructions I should follow?"
"Are there any special instructions I should tell
my visitors?"
Ask doctors and nurses why the medical devices that you have
are needed and when they can be removed:
These medical devices may include indwelling urinary catheters,
intravenous catheters (IVs), peripheral IVs, central venous catheters,
surgical drains, and endotracheal tubes. If you are caring for someone
with a medical device who cannot speak, ask when the device can be
removed.
To anyone who enters your room or cares
for you:
"The hospital has told me to remind
everyone to clean their hands before
coming in the room."