Pre-Operative Infection Prevention & Control
Tahoe Forest Hospital District has a comprehensive program to prevent the spread of infections among patients, staff, and visitors. The major components of this program based on the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) recommendations are:
Hand Hygiene: The single most important way to prevent the spread of infections is by frequent handwashing. For visibly soiled hands, wash with soap and water. Wet hands first with water, apply soap product, and rub hands together vigorously for at least 15 seconds, covering all surfaces of the hands and fingers. Rinse hands with soap and warm water, then dry thoroughly with a disposable towel. Use towel to turn off faucet.
When hands are not visible soiled an alcohol-based hand rub may be used. Apply product to palm of one hand and rub hands together, covering all surfaces of hands and fingers, until hands are dry.
Artificial fingernails are not allowed on staff having "hands-on" patient contact.
Precautions: Standard precautions are the standard of care used to prevent spread of infectious agents among patients and healthcare personnel. These include healthcare personnel wearing gloves, gowns, masks and/or other face protection depending on the likelihood of exposure to blood or other body fluids, use of needle stick safety equipment and safe work practices. Expanded precautions are used when additional control measures are needed to prevent transmission of potentially infectious agents.
Preoperative showering: Help prevent infection by taking a shower the night before and the morning of surgery. Use the soap and the accompanying directions provided by your surgeon or surgical services department as part of the pre-registration process.
Recommended Vaccinations: see www.cdc.gov for detailed schedules, call 1-800-CDC-INFO, or contact your local healthcare provider
- Anyone 6 months of age or older: Flu vaccine
- Anyone 11 years of age or older: Tdap booster dose for pertussis (whooping cough)
- Children through 18 years of age: HBV, rotavirus, DTaP, Hib, IPV, MMR, varicella, PCV, hep A
- Teens & College students: MCV (meningococcal), HPV
- Adults: Td (tetanus-diphtheria) every 10 yrs
- 65 & older: pneumoccocal
- Travelers: See CDC travel website for specifics www.cdc.gov.