How To Be Safer In Hospital In Spite Of Super Bugs | Amoils.com

  Many people today dread having to go to a hospital. This is not because of the treatment or the operation but because they fear they will pick up a Super bug. This problem with runaway bacteria has been going on for some years now but it seems to be getting worse and not better. It has got so bad that doctors in the media are suggesting to patients that they actually question a doctor or other medical staff before they even touch you or a loved one. They say you should ask: “When was the last time you washed your hands” or “Please will you wash your hands first”. It is your life at risk after all so even though it may be difficult to say, your safely should be paramount. It could save your life or that of a loved one.

Antibiotic-resistant CRKP

And there is a new super bug in the news this week and that is the antibiotic -resistant CRKP. At risk are the elderly and those who have to spend long periods in hospital. According to the CDC, these are the statistics confirming the seriousness of hospital infections in the United States. For every 100 patient admissions, there are 4.5 hospital infections and a total of 100 000 deaths from hospital infection. Interestingly, the majority of hospital infections occur outside the ICU – so if you are really, really ill, you could be safer than if you are not. But even if you survive a hospital infection, you could have to endure treatment and surgery for years to come and even permanent disability.

Why do super bugs spread?

Among the hundreds of studies carried out to find why super bugs and other bacteria spread in hospitals, the results have come up with the rampant over use and abuse of antibiotics by medical doctors, as well as the wearing of neckties by the doctors, the cellphones they carry and the laziness of hospital staff about washing their hands. Now added to the list are computer keyboards and remotes especially when used by the medical staff in the hospital. Except for the sterile environment of surgery theaters, the super bugs can be found riding on dust particles of the heating and air-conditioning systems, in bathrooms and toilets and even in the food. They account for most of the deaths in hospitals today. The super bugs choose their patients whose immune systems have already been impaired through sickness, injury, surgery and/or previous encounters with antibiotics. In healthy people with a strong immune system, these bugs can live on their skin or in their noses without infecting them. This is according to Andreas Moritz in his work Timeless Secrets of Health & Rejuvenation: Unleash the Natural Power That Lies Dormant within you.

What to do before going into hospital

If you or a loved one have to spend time in hospital, do your research and make sure you do everything you can to boost your immune system before and while you are in hospital. You cannot be in the sun there, so take plenty of vitamin D3 as a supplement. Large doses of vitamin C are also invaluable. Avoid any processed food, sugar, artificial sweeteners and sodas that may be part of the hospital diet and drink plenty of pure water. Of course whenever there is a big enough problem, somebody will come up with a solution so there is hope for the future. And there are already many innovative solutions to make hospitals and hospital rooms themselves safer for patients. They just need to come into practice.

Other solutions

There are now washable keyboards, computer mice and even remotes that can literally be dumped in the dishwasher to be thoroughly cleaned. There is the new smart room currently undergoing testing which includes a soap and sanitzier dispenser for medical personnel to use both before and after seeing a patient AND which will make it perfectly clear with its special sensors if that person does not use it. The futuristic hospital room ensures that each patient has a touch screen (oh dear another source of super bugs) on which is listed the information on foods the patient can eat and whatever special instructions the doctor has for the patient such as exercise etc. The nurse at her station also has a touch screen listing the patients under her charge with their medications, dosages and when they should be given. When it is time for a medication, she touches another button for a drawer in the medicine cabinet to unlock and a light shows her which bin to open indicating that this is the medication to be given at this time. To reduce any mistakes, computers link up with all the equipment including IV pumps and, in the patient's room, a bedside scanner is matched to bar codes on the nurse's badge and the patient's wrist to provide a fail safe net. The big question will be: Will all this high technology keep all patients safe or is there still the possibility for human error? Time will tell.