UF Health Shands Hospital Patient Guide: Fighting Infections

While you’re in the hospital to get well, you should know that there is the possibility of developing an infection. The single most important thing you can do to help prevent infections is to wash your hands and make sure that everyone who touches you — including your doctors and nurses — wash their hands, too.

You, your family and friends should wash hands:

1. After touching objects or surfaces in the hospital room
2. Before eating
3. After using the restroom

It is also important that your health-care providers wash their hands with either soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand cleaner every time, both before and after they touch you. Health-care providers know to practice hand hygiene, but sometimes they forget. You and your family should not be afraid or embarrassed to speak up and ask them to wash their hands.

Please Note Sign by Door of ALL Patient Rooms.

• Under certain conditions a patient may be placed on additional isolation or other precautions. Staff and visitors will be required to wear personal protective equipment (such as gloves, gowns or masks) based on the category of isolation or precaution. This is done to protect others or the patient.
• A sign describing the type of isolation is placed on the patient’s door.
• Nursing staff can provide the patient/visitor with more information or precautions. The Infection Control Department is also available to answer questions.