While visiting a patient in hospital

Visiting a relative, friend, colleague or known to in hospital is seen as a gesture of love, care and affection. In hospital, patients are often visited by their well wishers, who provide them support and pray for their speedy recovery. While this emotional support from well wishers are an important component in recovery of patient, certain care should be taken by visitors, to ensure that they do not cause any harm to patient or themselves.

1. Patient needs rest and that is one of the main reason why he/she is admitted in a hospital. Make sure that your visit should not cause unrest to the patient
2. Every hospital has defined visiting hours. Visit only during these hours, so that other patients do not get disturbed
3. Do not overcrowd near patient. Meet patient in group of two or maximum three at a time.

Infections in hospitals. What every patient should know

Imagine, you went to a hospital seeking cure of your disease but instead acquired another infectious disease from the hospital. This is called hospital acquired or nosocomial infection. It is one of the biggest risk which a patient is exposed to while getting treated in a hospital. Every year about 17 million patients acquire nosocomial infections in United States which leads to 99,000 deaths every year (As per data of CDC). The figures in developing countries like India may be much higher.

Why does nosocomial infection occur?