Preventing Infections in the Hospital

In any hospital, there is a chance for the spread of infections. Infections like colds or the flu can pass easily from person to person. In the Clinical Center, Infection Control Specialists from the Hospital's Epidemiology Service are members of your child's health care team. They are available 24 hours a day.

Even colds can be dangerous for our patients. A cold may be trivial in a healthy person, but for patients whose immune systems are weakened by disease or treatment even a cold can be life threatening. Some symptoms suggest infection: cough, diarrhea, eye drainage, fever, rash, runny nose, sore throat, or vomiting. If you or any of the people visiting with you have these symptoms, an Infection Control Specialist will assess whether they are part of an infection that can be spread to others.

Tell us if you have recently been exposed to a someone with a cold or infectious disease. Recent exposure to some infections, such as chickenpox, head lice, measles, mumps, whooping cough (pertussis), influenza, scabies, strep throat, or tuberculosis, is cause for concern. Patients with weak immune systems are vulnerable to these infections. Since some infections can be spread even before you develop symptoms, please tell the nurse if you might have been exposed. If you’ve been exposed within the last 6 weeks, our staff will try to make sure that the infection has not spread.

Tell us if you’ve been recently vaccinated. To make sure that infections cannot be spread, we will ask whether you’ve gotten any immunizations within the last 6 weeks. Vaccines (immunizations) prevent the spread of infection. But for a short time after someone gets a certain type of vaccination, there is a small chance that the infection could be spread.

"Universal Precautions": How we prevent infections from spreading. If an infection is suspected or found, we work closely with hospital staff, patients, and family members. “Universal Precautions” ––meaning handwashing and wearing safety items (such as gloves)––are a big part of preventing infections’ spread. We practice Universal Precautions strictly.

"Isolation Precautions": Depending on the infection, “isolation precautions” may be used along with Universal Precautions. When the infection is cured or can no longer be spread, isolation is stopped and only Universal Precautions are used.

To learn more about preventing infections from spreading in the Clinical Center feel free to browse these items: Respiratory virus isolation information for patients, families and visitors and Infection control at the CC: information for patients and visitors