Infections MAY ISSUE journal of Hospital Issues Stopping Infections in Your Hospital Hospitals are full of veetors of infectious diseases. According to estimates, about 17 milion American hossital patients got a nosocomial infection each year. Health care facies have a responsibilty to be vigilant about protecting their patients from infections. There are many simple ways this can be achieved The majority of ilnesses are spread through touch, 0 itis essential that hospitals have many hand- Washing staffons availabe to patients, vistors, and ‘employees. Problems lke E. coli and staph infections can be prevented by using alcohol- based hand sanitizers. However, these saritizers do not kill all bacteria. Washing frequently with soap and water will help guarantee reduced infection outbreaks. Hospitals should try to prevent illnesses before they spread. Diagnostic tests can detect infections, such as those caused by drug- resistant MRSA bacteria. Catching an infection eealy is a key step to stopping it in its tracks. Finally, hospitals must have standard processes ‘and tasks for procedures. For example, in intensive care units, nurses should brush their patient's teeth regularly. Ths kl the bacteria that causes ventilator-associated — pneumonia, ‘Similarly, LPNs should have checkists of the stens {or fing patients with urinary catheters, since ‘an improper fit can lead to infection. in addon, Cleaning procedures for mecical tools must be followed carefully. It is equally Important not to contaminate sterilized tools. Get ready! ‘urinary catheter) @ Before you read the passage, talk about these questions. ' Reading @ Read the article on preventing hospital infections. Then, complete the table using information from the article. 1 How do infections spread? 2 What are some ways to prevent infections from sprea Prevention Probleme E. coli and staph infections 2 Drug-resistant 2 MRSA bacteria TES Ventiator-associated |3 pneumonia Imroper fit of urinary catheter = Vocabulary © Fill in the blanks with the correct words. and phrases from the word bank. WO) d TTT alcohol-based drug resistant vigilant hand sanitizers 1 The nurse washed her hands after working with each pation 2 This substance is _ Its not ‘made with water. Peter is not getting better because his virus i _— kill most bacteria, but not Book 3@ Check (v) the sentence that uses the underlined part correctly. 1 A A nosocomial infection is one that ‘cannot be cured with most crugs —B The hands are a vector of ilness 2 _A The man contaminated the wound when he touched it with his bare hands. — B Ventllator-associated oneumonia is, ‘common in pediatric units. 3. _ A MRSA can be treated using over-the- counter drugs. — B Lewis contracted E.coli after eating raw spinach, 4 — A Staph infections are caused when a patient is on a ventilator for too long. —B The woman has a winary cathete because she can! leave her bed. © @ Listen and read the article on preventing hospital infections again. What are some ways to prevent MRSA from spreading? tening @ G Listen to a conversation between a nurse and a doctor. Mark the following statements as true (T) or false (F). 1. _ The man bolioves that antibiotics will not holp the pationt’s condition. 2. — The diagnostic tests showed that the other ‘man in the patient's room also has MRSA. 3. _. The patient’s room is being disinfected to prevent MRSA from spreading. ‘snot virus is ‘not @ @ Listen again and complete the conversation. Nurse: Well the red, swollen wounds ontis body are now 1 pus. Doctor: 2_ Nurse: Yes, he said that he was short of breath, ‘and his temperature is 3 Doctor: Im attaid it may be MRSA We need 4 him on an aggressive round of antibiotics. And he needs to be in isolation. Nurse: Right. Ill got started on that Doctor: Has anyone else in this unit been infected? Nurse: We ran some diagnostic tests on the other patient in Mr. Haris'room, but his test results 6 negative. None of the ‘other patients are exhibiing symptoms, Speaking © With a partner, act out the roles below based on Task 7. Then, switch roles USE LANGUAGE SUCH AS: Anything else? Has anyone else The test results came back Student A: You are a doctor. Tak to Student B about: ‘© 2 patient's current condition ‘© what could happen to the patient Student B: You are a nurse. Talk to Student A about a sick patient. Writing © Use the conversation from Task 8 and the article to write notes on a patient. Include the patient's name, condition and symptoms, preventative measures, and treatment directions and concerns. 25iy Taking a history Get ready! @ Before you read the passage, talk about these questions. ae 41 What kind of information is included in a patient's modical history? 2. How do doctors use medical historios? pe Reading @ Read the guide to taking medical histories. - Then, complete the table using information Assist-A-Med = ==" Guide to Taking Medical Histories Type of History | __ Information Included fsa medical profesional you should be prepared to tke Pia pa | Soceeeaton thorough medical histories. The data you collect reveals important details about a patient. Doctors use these tails to uncover likely causes of medical conditions and Social History ‘establish diagnoses. Family Medical First, get as many details as possible about a patient's 7 E : ei History complaint, Find out if the patient has a history of the Concition. Ask when the patient experienced the onset of symptoms. Check what makes i worse and what makes Vocabulary it better. Then find out about the patients past medical history © Match the words (1-6) with the definitions Record any previous medical problems, especially those Oo: that coud relate tothe current condition 1 data 4 — complaint Other dotate can also contribute to a useful medal 2 onset 5 procedure Fistor. A good social history includes information about 3 — allergy 6 __ family medical history the patents personal habits and iestyle. A family medical history reveals conions that are more likely 10 AA the first instance of something occur ina particular family B a record of a patient's family's conditions Before any medical procedure, make sure you have an © a collection of information updated record of the patients allergies. This way, you a condition that causes a reaction or iness ara rosa patito mda rbot io nodal tesreet rrigt arm them aie F a pain or illness reported by a patient 18