Infection prevention consumer and patient information

What are healthcare associated infections?

Healthcare associated infections happen when you are receiving healthcare.

These infections will always pose a potential risk but many are preventable with careful attention to infection control procedures by healthcare workers.

You can also take steps to reduce your risk of infection in hospital and in the home.

• Wash your hands often with soap and running water or use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Don't be afraid to ask medical and nursing staff if they have cleaned their hands before they touch you.
• Tell your friends and relatives not to visit the hospital if they are sick.
• Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
• Complete any course of antibiotics that you start.
• Follow advice on wound dressings and handling of medical devices.
• Stop smoking.

Information and fact sheets

• View the Clostridium Difficile Infections (CDI) fact sheet
• View the hand hygiene fact sheet
• View the Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) fact sheet
• View the multi-resistant organisms fact sheet 
• View the Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) fact sheet