Infections In Hospital Reduce The Risk

Overview

When you are in hospital, you are there to get better. But hospitals are also places where many people, pieces of equipment and germs are close together, so there is a chance of picking up an infection during your stay. Doctors call these 'healthcare-associated infections' — infections you get while receiving care in a hospital or a similar setting. They are not a sign that anyone did something wrong. The good news is that many of them can be prevented, and there are simple things you, your family and hospital staff can do to lower the risk.

Yes. Infections linked to healthcare are among the most common complications of medical care worldwide. The exact numbers vary between hospitals and countries, but every hospital has plans in place to prevent them and to spot them early.

Anyone can get an infection in hospital, but some people are more likely to. This includes people who have surgery, people with tubes or drips, older adults, babies and young children, people with a weakened immune system (the body's defence system), and people who stay in hospital for a long time or spend time in intensive care.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

• A temperature that is higher than normal, or sometimes lower than normal
• Feeling shivery, cold or sweaty
• A wound that is red, swollen, hot, painful, or leaking pus or fluid
• A cough, chest pain, or feeling short of breath
• Pain or a burning feeling when passing urine, or needing to go more often
• Loose stools or diarrhoea, sometimes with stomach cramps
• Feeling very tired, achy, or generally 'not yourself'

Symptoms in children

• A high temperature, or feeling cold and clammy
• Being very sleepy, floppy or hard to wake
• Poor feeding, or fewer wet nappies than usual
• Being unusually irritable or crying in a way that is hard to soothe
• Fast or noisy breathing
• New redness, swelling or discharge around a wound, drip site or tube

Symptoms in older adults

• New confusion, drowsiness or unusual behaviour — sometimes the first sign
• A fall, or sudden weakness
• Not wanting to eat or drink
• A temperature that is only slightly raised, or even low
• Feeling generally 'off' or more unsteady than usual
• New incontinence (loss of bladder control) when passing urine hurts

Causes

Main causes

• Germs on hands moving from one person or surface to another — staff hands, visitor hands and your own hands
• Tubes, drips, urinary catheters and breathing tubes giving germs a way into the body
• Surgical wounds and other breaks in the skin
• Equipment or surfaces that are not fully cleaned between patients
• Your own germs causing trouble when your defences are low — for example, when antibiotics change the balance of bacteria in your gut

Risk factors

• Having surgery, especially long or emergency operations
• Having a urinary catheter, a drip into a vein, or a breathing tube
• A weakened immune system caused by illness or certain treatments
• Being older, being very young, or spending time in intensive care
• A long hospital stay
• Diabetes, smoking, poor nutrition, or being very overweight
• Recent or long courses of antibiotics, which can let resistant germs take hold

When to see a doctor

See a doctor urgently if:

• You have a fever, chills or feel very unwell after leaving hospital
• A wound becomes red, hot, swollen or starts leaking pus
• You have pain when passing urine, or diarrhoea that will not stop
• A tube or drip site looks sore, red or is leaking
• While you are still in hospital, tell a nurse or doctor straight away about any new symptom — you do not need to wait for the next ward round

Book a routine appointment if:

• Before you go home, ask your team what to watch for and who to call
• Ask about wound care, and when stitches, clips or dressings will be changed or removed
• See your GP or practice nurse if you are still very tired or not feeling yourself a few weeks after coming home
• Ask your pharmacist to check any medicines you were sent home with

Diagnosis

Your doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms, check your temperature and other vital signs (like pulse and blood pressure), and look closely at any wound, drip site or tube. They may take samples to find out which germ is causing the problem, because that helps them choose the right treatment. Results often come back within a day or two.

Tests that may be done

• Blood tests, and sometimes a blood sample to grow the germ (a blood culture)
• A urine sample
• A swab from a wound, throat or nose
• A stool (poo) sample if you have diarrhoea
• A chest X-ray or scan if a chest or deep infection is suspected
• A screening swab before some operations to check for resistant germs

What to expect at your appointment

Taking samples is quick and mostly painless — a swab feels like a light scratch. Results can take a day or more, so treatment may start before they come back. If you have already gone home, you may be asked to drop samples off or come back to a clinic.

Treatment

Treatment depends on what kind of infection you have and how unwell you are. Many hospital infections are treated with germ-fighting medicines prescribed by a doctor, alongside fluids, rest and good care of wounds or tubes. Some get better with supportive care alone. The team will also check whether any tube, drip or catheter can be removed, because taking it out is often the quickest way to clear the infection.

Self-care at home

• Wash your hands often, and ask visitors to do the same before they come near you
• Keep a wound clean and dry, and follow the advice you were given about dressings
• Drink plenty of fluids, especially if you have a fever
• Rest, and build activity back up slowly
• Take any medicine exactly as prescribed, and ask your pharmacist if you are unsure
• Do not share towels, flannels, creams or razors
• Tell staff as soon as you notice a new symptom — early is better

Medical treatments

Doctors treat these infections in a few main ways. Germ-fighting medicines (antibiotics) are the most common, chosen to suit the germ and the part of the body affected. The team may also give fluids through a drip, oxygen, pain relief, and extra support for breathing or blood pressure if needed. Removing a catheter, drip or tube often makes a big difference. Sometimes a wound needs cleaning, packing or draining. Doctors try to use antibiotics only when they are needed, because overuse lets germs become resistant (harder to kill).

When is surgery considered?

Surgery is only needed for some infections — for example, to drain a collection of pus (an abscess) or to clean an infected wound or joint. Most hospital infections do not need an operation.

Living with this condition

Recovery can take longer than you expect, even after a mild infection. Tiredness for a few weeks is common. Plan short activities with rests in between, and accept help with shopping, cooking or childcare while you get your strength back. Keep any follow-up appointments, and write down questions so you remember them.

Lifestyle tips

• Keep washing your hands well at home, especially before eating and after using the toilet
• Keep wounds covered until they are healed, and change dressings as advised
• Avoid close contact with people who are unwell while you are recovering
• Stop smoking if you can — it helps wounds heal and lowers infection risk
• Keep long-term conditions such as diabetes as well controlled as you can
• Get back to normal routines gradually rather than all at once

Diet and exercise

Eat regular, balanced meals with plenty of fruit and vegetables, and enough protein (such as beans, eggs, fish or meat) to help your body heal. Drink water regularly through the day. Gentle movement — short walks and light stretching — helps your circulation and breathing. Build up slowly and rest whenever you need to.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Being in hospital and getting an infection can leave you anxious, low or shaken. Some people find it hard to sleep or keep replaying what happened. These feelings usually ease with time. If low mood or worry lasts more than a couple of weeks or affects daily life, tell your doctor — support is available and asking for it is not a weakness. If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself, contact your local emergency number or a crisis line straight away.

Prevention

Many hospital infections can be prevented, or made less likely, with simple steps. You are part of the team here — asking staff to clean their hands, asking whether a tube or drip is still needed, and keeping your own hands clean all make a real difference. Hospitals also use thorough cleaning routines, careful surgical practices and screening programmes to protect patients.

Vaccines

Vaccines lower the chance of some infections and their complications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist which ones are recommended for you — for example flu, COVID-19 or pneumococcal vaccines if you are in a risk group or are about to have certain types of surgery.

Screening programmes

Some hospitals swab the nose or skin before certain operations to check for resistant germs (such as MRSA) so they can protect you during surgery. You may also be asked about recent infections or antibiotic use when you are admitted — this helps the team care for you safely.

Complications

If left untreated

• The infection spreading into the bloodstream or deeper tissues
• Sepsis — the body's dangerous overreaction to infection, which is a medical emergency
• Longer hospital stays and slower recovery
• Problems with wounds healing, or with joints, bones or organs
• Infections caused by resistant germs, which are harder to treat

Long-term outlook

Most people with a hospital infection get better with treatment, and many recover fully. Getting help early makes a big difference. If you are worried about anything during or after your stay, speak up — the team would much rather hear from you.

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