At BJC HealthCare hospitals, infection control specialists at each of our hospitals teach our patients and staff about the best ways to prevent and treat infections. Here are some basic steps you can take to avoid an infection during your hospital stay:  Wash your hands often and well, especially after using the bathroom, or coughing or sneezing. Use soap and warm water for at least 15 seconds, or use an alcohol foam or gel hand rub.  Insist that all visitors and health-care workers wash their hands or use the alcohol foam dispenser at the entrance to your patient room as soon as they come in and before they leave.  Speak up if you do not see your caregivers, including doctors and nurses, wash their hands. Help remind them about the need for hand washing and hand hygiene before all patient contact.

Some diseases and conditions require additional precautions to limit the spread of germs and promote your recovery. These precautions may include: 

• Placing a sign on your door to alert staff and visitors to infection precautions 
• Requiring that you stay in your room 
• Requiring everyone entering your room to wear gloves and a gown to prevent them from carrying germs out of the room 
• Requiring that you wash your hands and put on a gown before going to another part of the hospital for treatment

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