Martin Memorial's Infection Control Department, in collaboration with all of Martin Memorial's employees, strives to provide an environment that is safe from infection. Infections can make patients weak and uncomfortable, lead to more time in the hospital and can impact recovery. The prevention and control of infections is a major part of Martin Memorial's patient safety program.

The hospital's infection control guidelines offer many ways to help reduce and prevent infections. While you are at the hospital, these guidelines help ensure your health and the health of every patient. Maintaining a safe hospital environment is very important. Germs and infections can travel from patient to patient, from patient to staff, from staff to patient, from visitor to patient, or patient to visitor. Prevention is basic to fighting many infections.

Martin Memorial's Infection Control Procedures

To prevent the spread of infection, staff follow these standard precautions.

• Hospital personnel may use protective barriers such as gloves, cover gowns, masks, and eye/face protectors and may take certain precautions to prevent the spread of diseases, depending on the disease.
  
  
• Hospital personnel are specially-trained to properly dispose of sharps (needles, etc.) and contaminated wastes in special containers.
  
  
• Equipment, instruments and surfaces are disinfected and sterilized to elimate infectious agents. All instruments capable of withstanding high heat are autoclaved (steam-sterilized) which kills infectious bacteria and viruses. The autoclaves are tested weekly to insure that they are operating properly. All items that cannot tolerate high heat, such as plastics, are disinfected in a chemical solution formulated to kill infectious bacteria and viruses. Most items, such as needles, are single-use and are disposed of after each patient.
  
  
• Hand washing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection. Martin Memorial has hand sanitizers inside or outside of all patient rooms and strives to provide continuous patient, visitor and staff education about the importance of hand washing.
  
  
• Martin Memorial also communicates with patients and visitors to encourage their help in the prevention of infection. (See the "How Patients and Visitors Can Prevent Infection" section below.)
  
  
• Each patient room and bathroom is cleaned daily/between patients. All surfaces (counter tops, beds, hand rails, patient care equipment, etc.) are disinfected with a chemical solution formulated to kill infectious bacteria, spores, and viruses. Barriers (covers etc.) are used whenever possible.
  
  
• We ask that visitors not sit or sleep on the patient's bed to keep germs low in the patient's sleeping area.
  
  
• We do not permit food to be stored in patient rooms. Food attracts insects that can spread infections.
  
  
• Patients who have known or suspected infection may be placed on isolation precautions. These isolation precautions are important to stop the spread of some infections and may include a private room or semi-private with a person who has a similar condition; protective clothing worn by staff and visitors, such as gloves, gowns or masks; special equipment that stays in the room; limited movement in and out of the room; and hand hygiene for patients, staff and visitors.

Infection Control in the Intensive Care Unit
The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a highly sensitive area of the hospital. The nurses who work in the ICU are educated regarding infection control risks and will respond appropriately in order to reduce these risks. Martin Memorial also has special infection control guidelines for the ICU.

ICU patient visitor policy: we ask that visitors observe the following guidelines.

• Any visitor with symptoms or signs of a communicable illness or disease should not visit the hospital.
• Respect patient's privacy by leaving the room when care is given.
• Children accompanied by an adult may visit, however they must be under supervision at all times.
• Visitors should wash their hands before and after touching the patient or anything in the room to help us prevent the spread of disease.
• If the patient is on special precautions, all visitors will be required to check in with the nurse before entering the patient's room for special instructions.
• Flowers and plants are discouraged because of infection control risks. Per the CDC, fresh flowers in patient rooms may harbor bacteria that may affect a patient's safety and therefore will not be allowed.

How Patients and Visitors Can Prevent Infection

Patients are more likely to get infections because of their illnesses and the treatments they receive. Many times the patient's disease or its treatments may weaken his or her immune system. There is no way to prevent all infections. Sometimes a patient will become ill even when all the rules are followed. It is important that we work together to reduce the chance of a patient getting an infection.

Hand washing is the single most effective way to prevent infection. Always remember to:

• Clean your hands before eating, after using the bathroom, and after touching any item that could have a large number of germs on it. You can clean your hands with soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer found in wall-mounted dispensers inside and outside patient rooms.
• Ask all health care workers who have direct contact with you if they have washed their hands.
• Tell your visitors to clean their hands well before entering and after leaving your room.
• Friends and family who are sick should not visit until they are well. If your family and visitors become sick, the illness may be spread to you. Most of these illnesses are spread by hands.

Contact Us

Bonnie Hannon, RN, BSN
Manager, Infection Control
Martin Memorial Health Systems
P.O. Box 9010
Stuart, FL 34995
(772) 419-2966
bhannon@mmhs-fla.org