Patient Safety: Infection Prevention

Mount Auburn Hospital: 99%
State of Massachusetts Average: 96%
United States Average: 86%

Help the Mount Auburn Hospital care team prevent hospital-acquired infections and keep yourself and others healthy with these simple actions.

If you’re a visitor, protect your loved ones and others in the hospital by following our visitor guidelines. If your loved one is in a room with an isolation sign, stop at the nurses’ station before entering and follow directions to prevent the spread of germs.

Stay home if you’re sick, have a fever or think you may have been exposed to contagious diseases such as chickenpox or the flu. If you’re unsure if you should visit, call your doctor or nurse and ask them about your symptoms.

When you’re scheduled for surgery or other medical procedures, your doctor will provide instructions on what to do before you come to the hospital. This may include how to prepare your skin, medications you should or shouldn’t take, and other instructions depending on the type of surgery. Follow these instructions carefully to help prevent infection and other problems.

You’ll also receive instructions on how to care for yourself after you leave the hospital. This may include prescription medications, information about caring for your surgery site and physical activity recommendations. You’ll also receive guidelines on when and who to call if you think you’re experiencing a surgical complication. Follow these instructions carefully to reduce your risk of infection and to make sure any infection gets treated early.

Your care team may use a thin, flexible tube called a catheter to deliver fluids, medications or nutrition to your body; to drain fluids from wounds; or to remove urine from your bladder. Sometimes, you need to go home with the catheter still in place. Ask your doctor or nurse why you need a catheter and what you should do to prevent infection. Make sure you understand what you and your caregivers need to do to keep your catheter clean and functional.

Your Mount Auburn Hospital care team is always working to protect your health while you’re in our facilities. Learn about what we’re doing to prevent infections every day.

Prevent infections and keep yourself and others healthy with these simple everyday actions.

Your skin is your armor against harmful bacteria. Use moisturizer to protect it from dryness and cracking. Clean cuts, scratches and wounds, and protect them with a clean, dry bandage. If you have cuts or sores that aren’t healing, call your primary care provider.

To prevent your workout from making you sick:

• Clean exercise equipment with antibacterial wipes before and after each use.
• Clean personal protective equipment, such as helmets and jock straps, with antibacterial wipes after each use. Never share personal equipment.
• Shower after working out and use a clean towel to dry off.
• Wear sandals in the locker room to prevent foot infections.

Avoid close contact with others when you’re ill. Stay home from work or school and steer clear of crowds. Don’t shake hands or touch others, and always cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.

Take antibiotics only when they’re the most appropriate treatment for your bacterial infection. Follow your doctor’s directions and always complete the full course of treatment. Stopping early may allow the infection to return even stronger.

If you’re caring for a friend or family member with a MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) or VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococcus) infection, follow these tips to lower your risk of developing an infection yourself:

• Wash your hands with soap and water before and after direct contact with your loved one, and before leaving home.
• Use disposable gloves when providing care if you expect contact with body fluids. Always wash your hands after removing the gloves.
• Regularly clean the house, including furniture used by your loved one, using normal household cleaning products.
• Wash towels after each use.