5 Super Ways to Avoid Bacterial Infections When Preparing For Surgeries By Brent McNutt At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Can something helpful become harmful? This actually happens more often in life than we take time to realize. While the sun provides us with sunlight, warmth, and food, the UV rays can also damage our eyes and our skin.

Likewise, physicians use surgeries to cure various injuries and diseases that we may have. However, we can also become prone to infectious bacteria that enter our body, resulting in complications or even death. Here are some tips to minimize the likelihood that bacteria such as MRSA, will nullify any success from your surgery:

1. Eliminate current infections prior to the surgery

What is worse than obtaining an infection during surgery? That would be obtaining two different infections before and then after, the surgery. Make sure to zap all infections prior to the surgery-even if they are not in the neighborhood on which the surgeon will operate.

2. If possible, avoid urinary catheter

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is the most prevalent infection type in hospitals. One common way that hospital patients obtain this condition, is via a urinary catheter. This machine allows bacteria to creep into your system. If the catheter is attached to you for over six days, then your chance of becoming infected starts to skyrocket. Unless the urinary catheter is 100% necessary, request that your physician not use it. If it is necessary, then request that your doctor remove it after it becomes unnecessary.

3. Have the staff protect you and your environment

Steps to follow include:

• Keeping all surfaces surrounding you, clean

Have the staff focus on areas that people often touch (i.e. bedrails and doorknobs)

• Sterilizing all medical tools

It is important that the medical staff uses proper detergents and disinfectants

• Providing you with antibiotics when needed

Typically, doctors or nurses should minister them about 1-2 hours before the surgery, when needed.

4. Get healthier before the surgery

You do not have to resemble Miss America or Mr. Universe, prior to your surgery. However, try to improve your health somewhat. If you are overweight, then try to shed some pounds prior to the surgery. If you have diabetes, reduce your blood sugar to a reasonable level, before the physician operates on you.

5. Smoke out your smoking (at least temporarily)

I am not a smoker, but I am not going to tell you to stop smoking forever. However, if you smoke a few months before your operation, you could cause certain complications to occur, and increase the risk of bacteria infecting your body. In one study performed in Denmark, smokers who quit smoking 1.5-2.0 months prior to the surgery or slashed their smoking in half-were six times less likely to become infected, than those who failed to take either of those actions.

Before a surgery, medical staff will take certain steps to avoid bacterial infections. This can include various actions, such as wearing hygienic cheap urbane scrubs. However, you can help to ensure that they carry out particular steps-so your surgery will result in recovery, rather than remorse.

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