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Healthcare-Associated Infection Prevention

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One out of every 25 patients who went to a hospital got an infection during their visit in 2001. Of those infected, about 75,000 died. If you are a patient in a hospital:

  • Be sure everyone cleans their hands before touching you.
  • If you have a catheter (one of the main ways an infection occurs), ask each day if it is needed.
  • Tell your doctor if you have diarrhea three or more times within 24 hours, especially if you have been taking an antibiotic.
  • Look up online ahead of time the hospital’s infection rates on the Hospital Compare website.
  • Follow this advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Infection rates between hospitals are different. We help hospitals find improvement opportunities and work with them make changes to improve care. Getting hospitals to follow a simple checklist can save lives.

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