Prevent Pneumonia
Keep Your Lungs Healthy to Lower Infection Risk
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. Patients who have had a surgical procedure, have limited mobility, and spend a lot of time in bed face a higher risk of getting hospital-associated pneumonia (HAP). If you or your loved one has any of these risk factors, it’s important to learn how to prevent HAP.
How Do Hospitals Prevent HAP?
To prevent HAP, your healthcare team:
Clean their hands with soap and water or an alcohol sanitizer before and after touching you or your equipment.
May keep the head of your bed elevated between 30 and 45 degrees.
Assess the condition of your mouth and assist with daily mouth care, including daily toothbrushing.
Teach you to turn, cough and breathe deeply.
Teach you how to use an incentive spirometer, if needed.
Encourage you to get out of bed and move as soon as possible.
Evaluate how you swallow.
Screen you for the pneumonia and influenza vaccines, if needed.
Give you help with breathing in the least invasive way your condition allows.
Clear Your Lungs
Breathing exercises, like coughing, taking deep breaths, and using an incentive spirometer can keep your airways open and prevent fluid buildup in your lungs.
What Can I Do to Prevent HAP?
You can lower your risk of developing HAP:
Quit smoking.
Keep the head of your bed raised so that your lungs don’t retain fluid.
Brush your teeth and use an antiseptic mouthwash daily.
Reposition yourself in bed often to keep fluid from pooling in your lungs.
Take care when swallowing so you don’t aspirate—get food or liquid into your lungs instead of your throat.
If you were instructed on the use of an incentive spirometer, use it at least once every hour.
Get out of bed and move around as soon as your doctor says you can.
Get pneumonia and influenza vaccines if your doctor recommends them.
Ask visitors to wash their hands when they come into your room.
Can HAP Be Treated?
HAP can be very serious. Most of the time, it can be treated with antibiotics. The choice of antibiotics depends on which specific germs are causing the infection. Your healthcare provider will decide which antibiotic is best. If you have questions, please ask your doctor or nurse.
Strategies to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia, ventilator-associated events, and nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia in acute-care hospitals: 2022 Update. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. ]
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