Common HAIs and How You Can Help to Prevent Them
Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)
• An indwelling urinary catheter is a tube inserted into the patient's bladder
to collect urine. It can cause a urinary tract infection called a catheter-
associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI).
• As a visitor, follow the Steps to Protect Patients and You, and avoid
the catheter tubing.
Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI)
• A central line or intravenous catheter (IV) is a small tube placed in a vein
in the neck, chest, arm, or groin. It can cause a bloodstream infection
called central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI).
• As a visitor, follow the Steps to Protect Patients and You, and avoid
the catheter tubing.
Pneumonia
• A ventilator is a machine that helps a patient breathe by giving oxygen
through a tube placed in their mouth, nose, or a hole in the front of their
neck. A ventilator can cause pneumonia called ventilator-associated
pneumonia (VAP).
• Lung infections also can occur in hospitalized patients that do not have
a ventilator.
• As a visitor, follow the Steps to Protect Patients and You, and take
care to avoid cords and tubing around the patient.
Surgical Site Infection (SSI)
• A surgical site infection (SSI) is an infection that occurs after surgery,
usually in the part of the body where the surgery took place.
• As a visitor, follow the Steps to Protect Patients and You, and:
• Do not touch the surgical wound or dressing. Only healthcare
professionals should touch the surgical wound or dressing while the
patient is in the hospital.
• After they return home, the patient will have specific instructions for
care of their wound. Visitors of patients at home should not touch the
wound or dressing, unless they are involved in the care of the patient
and they have received training from the patient's healthcare team to
be involved in the care of the patient.
