Five ways to fend off infections

Keep your hands clean

Regular hand washing is one of the easiest ways to prevent the spread of infections. If you're on the go, alcohol hand rubs and wipes have the same effect. But with either method, you need to do it right. Hand washing tips:

• Before you wash, have a clean paper or cloth towel handy
  
  
• Use warm water and soap - antibacterial soap isn't necessary
  
  
• Rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds - be sure to scrub between fingers
  
  
• Turn off the faucet with a clean towel

Tips on using alcohol hand rubs:

• Squeeze at least a half teaspoon of the liquid or gel onto the palm of one hand, then rub your hands together - be sure to apply the product between your fingers
  
  
• You don't have to wipe off the product - just rub your hands until it dries, which should take about 25 or 30 seconds
  
  
• If the hand rub dries out your skin, consider switching to a product that contains a small amount of an emollient like glycerol

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you should clean your hands:

• Before and after you eat or prepare food
  
  
• After contact with body fluids like mucus or saliva
  
  
• After going to the bathroom or changing a diaper
  
  
• After touching animals, their toys and leashes, or animal waste

For more, check out the link to the CDC's "Ounce of Prevention" Website below.

Cover coughs and sneezes

Any parent knows this lesson is a tough one to teach, but it's worth repeating! Coughs and sneezes can spread germs three feet away or more. Those germs can land on people - and the surfaces they touch.

Even when you aren't sick, you should:

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw away the dirty tissue
  
  
• If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the bend of your elbow or your hands
  
  
• After you cough or sneeze, wash your hands as soon as possible

Disinfect shared surfaces

Germs can live on surfaces for hours and even days, so it's essential to clean places like kitchen counters and bathroom fixtures, as well as shared items like toys and TV remote controls. Cleaning with soap and water can help you remove germs. But to really keep bacteria and other germs from spreading, you need to disinfect.

According to the CDC, disinfecting gives you an extra level of protection because you're not just removing germs - you're destroying them. How can you tell a disinfectant from an everyday cleaner? The CDC says to look for the word "Disinfectant" on the label, along with an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration number that indicates the product contains ingredients that destroy bacteria.

Use antibiotics wisely

Taking antibiotics for the wrong reason could actually increase your chances of getting an infection. Here's why:

• Antibiotics only fight infections caused by bacteria - things like strep throat and urinary tract infections. You shouldn't use antibiotics to treat viral infections like the common cold or the flu.
  
  
• Bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics if you take antibiotics too often or use them for infections not caused by bacteria. This resistance can make infections harder to treat in the future. You could even end up in the hospital.

To avoid resistance:

• Don't pressure your doctor to prescribe an antibiotic. When he or she does, ask whether it's necessary. Remember, a lot of doctors prescribe an antibiotic because they think their patients want one.
  
  
• Take antibiotics exactly as prescribed, even after you start feeling better. Don't save "leftovers" for the next time you get sick. And never share antibiotics.

Keep vaccinations up to date

Thanks to immunizations, you rarely hear about children developing infectious diseases like polio anymore. But although the rate of vaccine-preventable diseases has dropped to low levels in the United States, the viruses and bacteria that cause them still exist. Children are most vulnerable to infectious diseases during their first five or six years of life. But adolescents and adults need immunizations, too - especially those who are at high risk of getting the flu or pneumonia. Because immunization guidelines can change, check with your doctor or go to the CDC's "Vaccines and Immunizations" Website using the link below to make sure you and your family are up to date.

Bottom line

Infections can spread from person to person like wildfire - especially during the fall and winter months, when you spend more time indoors. To lessen your chances of catching a bug, maintain a clean environment, use antibiotics wisely, and keep vaccinations up to date.

References and resources

• Ounce of Prevention - Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
  
  
• Five Things You Can Do To Prevent Infection - The Joint Commission (PDF)
  
  
• Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  
  
• Vaccines and Immunizations - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  
  
• PreventInfection.org