Good hygiene is a basic requirement for good health. In a hospital setting, it is more important  where sick people come to restore their health.

Hospitals provide cure, but can  also become a potential source of spread of infection. A person may be hospitalized for some other problem say hypertension and may become more sick after acquiring some infection in the hospital. Infections occurring in a hospital setting (nosocomial infections), usually occur in three ways. It can spread from one patient to another, from patient to medical personnel or from a health personnel to a patient. 

The microbes causing these infections cause severe illness and are resistant to the conventional antibiotics being used. Germs like pseudomonas, kliebsella, among others, which cause serious illnesses, are mostly implicated in nosocomial infections.

The common diseases acquired  in a hospital are urinary tract infections, pneumonia, diarrhoeal diseases, common cold, etc. Even tuberculosis and HIV/Aids can be transmitted. For prevention of infection from one patient to another, the beds are separated by a suitable distance. Those suffering from contagious illness like cholera, TB, among others, are put in isolation.

 Every room should have adequate sunlight as most of the disease producing germs present in the environment are killed by strong sunlight. Adequate aeration and cross ventilation helps to minimize the concentration of germs inside the rooms. Daily washing and mopping of the hospital rooms with some antiseptic solution helps to kill the microbes prevalent in the rooms. Cobwebs and dust should  not be allowed to settle anywhere, because these harbor germs. Hygiene needs to be observed even for the hospital linen and clothes as these also tend to gather germs. These should be clean and changed regularly. They need to be washed and dried in strong sunlight.

 Disposal of the body fluids like  urine, blood, etc, and lab samples should be such that it does not become a source of infection for others. For this purpose, antiseptic solution is poured over the liquids before they are disposed of.

On part of doctors, nurses and others involved in health care it is very important that they use protective gloves, apron and masks. This not only protects them from infection but also prevents them from contaminating patients. Any health care personnel if sick from some infectious illness should stay away from patients.

Visitors and attendants

Individuals visiting and or attending a sick person should be aware of the importance of good hygiene. A person suffering from a potentially contaminating illness  even like common cold, should avoid visiting a sick person. If unavoidable, a protective mask should be used. In the hospital, they should cooperate with the staff in maintaining utmost cleanliness. Good hand washing on part of the attendant will ensure that no germs are passed on to the patient while  touching  him physically. It also ensures that one does not acquire any illness from a sick person. Mobiles, pens, among other material used by the patient also  can become a  source of infection for others as the germs passed on from patient to the object can contaminate others. Therefore, anything used by the patient can be wiped  by an antiseptic solution.  

The Ministry of Health has effectively promoted and implemented measures to improve hospital hygiene. As people become more aware of it, these measures will become more effective. This will definitely reduce incidence of hospital acquired infections and ensure that  sick individuals in hospitals always improve.

Dr Rachna Pande is a specialist in internal medicine at Ruhengeri Hospital