Who is at risk?
We hear about superbugs, viruses and bacteria all the time. In fact you can catch these illnesses anywhere, it's just that you are more vulnerable whilst in hospital, care homes and other semi-closed environments.
Every patient undergoing treatment or in recovery is at risk of catching dangerous germs, because the body's defences are compromised during and after illness. You are most at risk if:
- You are ill
- You are in recovery from illness
- You are recovering from surgery
- You have any breaks in the skin (wounds, cuts, scratches, burns, eczema)
- You use medical devices such as catheters and intravenous drips
- Pregnant women, young children and the elderly also have a higher risk as their immune systems are generally less able to fight germs.
It's also important to take care when visiting or working in semi-closed environments. As a healthy individual you can carry these germs on you (without having any symptoms yourself) and unwittingly pass them on to those more susceptible to infection.
