Prevent Acinetobacter Infection APK

Acinetobacter represents a group of bacteria which are commonly found in the soil and water of most countries. While all Acinetobacter bacteria can cause disease in people, the baumannii strain is the most dangerous and accounts for about 80% of Acinetobacter infections. Almost all Acinetobacter baumannii infections, which commonly develop in the lung, blood or in wounds, occur in healthcare settings — especially intensive care units within hospitals. Most Acinetobacter strains are resistant to many different antibiotics. Preventing an Acinetobacter infection isn't always possible, but some strategies are very helpful and may be life saving.

Additional tags: acinetobacter calcoaceticus nosocomial respiratory tract infection, clinical and epidemiological features acinetobacter infection, professionals in infection control acinetobacter baumannii, acinetobacter species nosocomial bloodstream infections, intensive care unit patients acinetobacter infection, infection control bundle acinetobacter baumannii, carbapenem consumption acinetobacter infection, intensive therapy unit acinetobacter infection, acinetobacter spp bloodstream infection, acinetobacter baumannii infections, outbreak of acinetobacter infection

Prevent
Limit your exposure to hospitals. Acinetobacter bacteria pose very little risk to healthy people within their day-to-day lives; however, very ill people within hospitals, particularly if they have weakened immune systems, chronic lung disease or diabetes, are much more susceptible to Acinetobacter and risk dying from the infection. As such, the goal is to avoid being in an intensive care unit (ICU) as a patient or visitor. Most people admitted to the ICU have little chance of preventing it, but following medical advice for any chronic lung diseases or diabetes can prevent your condition from taking a turn for the worse and needing emergency care.

Getting transferred out of the ICU into another part of the hospital for recovery may also reduce your risk of an Acinetobacter infection. Ask your care givers about your recovery options. Healthy people aren't normally at risk, but visiting ill relatives at hospitals can increase it, especially if you spend significant time in the ICU.

Wash your hands
A crucial way for reducing your risk of getting any type of bacterial or viral infection while staying in a hospital (or visiting one) is washing your hands properly and frequently. Wash your hands after going to the bathroom and after you touch any person (patient or hospital staff) or surface outside the bathroom. Be especially cautious with door knobs, light switches, bed railings, curtains, bedside tables and any type of medical equipment.

Warm water and regular soap is probably enough to sanitize your hands from bacteria, but consider using an alcohol-based cleaner also. Use the paper towel you dried your hands with as a barrier against door knobs and bedside rails. Once you climb back into bed (as a patient), throw the paper towel away in the garbage. Make sure to have some hand sanitizer within reach of your hospital bed at all times.

Stop touching eyes
Even if you're frequently sanitizing your hands as a patient or visitor to the hospital, try not to habitually touch your face (especially your mouth and eyes) with your hands. Bacteria on your hands are usually harmless, but they can enter your body through your mouth or eyes and become infectious. As such, focus on keeping your hands by your sides or on your lap. If you don't wear eyeglasses, consider putting on some plastic eye protection to prevent touching or rubbing your eyes.

If you're a woman, be very cautious about transmitting bacteria (and other germs) while putting on eye makeup and lipstick. If you're a hospital patient, it's safer not to wear any makeup. Pay attention to other objects people commonly put in their mouths without thinking, like pens and pencils, and anything shared, like phones or games.