In the hospital environment, inpatients face a higher risk of cross-infection of respiratory diseases due to their reduced resistance, the effects of disease and the high density of the hospital and the variety of pathogens. Effective prevention strategies are essential to ensure the health of in-patients and to promote the rehabilitation of diseases.
i. To enhance the environmental management of wards, which should be well ventilated and open windows on a regular basis every day for a period of not less than 30 minutes each to reduce the concentration of pathogens in the wards. Air purification equipment can assist in the filtration of dust and Egyptian fungus in air to reduce their suspended circulation in air. The temperature in the ward should be kept at 22 – 24°C and the relative humidity maintained at 50 – 60%, with a suitable temperature environment that not only improves the comfort of the patient but also contributes to the normal functioning of the respiratory mucous membrane and enhances local defence capacity. At the same time, the wards are regularly cleaned, including beds, bed-head cabinets, floors, etc., with suitable disinfectants to wipe them down and reduce the growth and residues of pathogens.
2. Strict application of the rules of hand hygiene, which is one of the important vectors for the transmission of respiratory diseases. Medical personnel are required to wash their hands in strict seven-step washing before, during and after contact with different patients, and to use soap and mobile water for at least 20 seconds to ensure that their hands are clean. In the absence of liquid water, quick hand disinfection with an alcohol-containing hand disinfectant can be used. Inpatients and their companions should also be given increased hygiene and hygiene education, in order to wash their hands and use hand disinfectants in a timely manner after meals, after touching public goods, and to prevent hand-to-hand contact with the transmission of pathogens to the entrance to the mouth, nose, eyes, etc.
Regulate patient and escort management to minimize the number of escorts and to regularize escorts and avoid increased risk of cross-infection due to frequent movement of people. Patients must undergo health screening before entering the ward, such as measuring body temperature, asking for symptoms of respiratory infections, etc., and persons with fever, cough, etc. are prohibited from entering the ward. Inpatients, if their condition permits, should wear masks, especially when communicating with medical staff, conducting examinations or treating them. In wards with suspected or confirmed cases of respiratory infectious diseases, appropriate isolation measures should be taken, such as placing patients in separate wards, providing medical staff with adequate protection, following a strict segregation procedure and preventing the transmission of pathogens to other ward areas.
Improved protection and training of health-care personnel who, in their daily medical care, should wear personal protective equipment, such as masks, hats, seclusive clothing, etc., in accordance with the work scene and patient ‘ s condition. In case of exposure to patients with respiratory infectious diseases, a standard protective mask such as N95 must be worn, and sterile operating techniques should be strictly enforced to prevent medical transmission. Hospitals should regularly organize training for health-care staff on the prevention and control of respiratory diseases, including the means of transmission of diseases, prevention methods, proper use of protective supplies and emergency treatment of sudden respiratory infections, and improve the preventive and control awareness and professional skills of health-care personnel to ensure that appropriate and effective responses are taken in the face of the risk of respiratory infections.
V. Sterilization of medical equipment and articles, medical equipment in wards such as hearing devices, sphygmomanometers, blood sugars, etc., shall be regularly sterilized and shall ensure that there are no pathogens remaining on the surface of the equipment, using such methods as scrubbing or specialized disinfectant impregnation. The foods used by patients, such as utensils and water cups, should also be used for personal use, with regular high temperature disinfection. Respiratory genres, slurry, etc. of patients should be collected in specialized containers and safely disposed of in accordance with medical waste disposal norms to prevent contamination of the environment or transmission to others.
Strengthening health education and monitoring, providing health education to inpatients and their companions on the prevention of respiratory diseases, and informing them of the dangers of cross-infections of respiratory diseases, preventive measures and timely reporting of symptoms, through various means, such as brochures, brochures in wards, lectures by medical personnel. At the same time, the monitoring of the conditions of in-patients, particularly in the areas of body temperature and respiratory symptoms, should be strengthened, and further examinations and assessments should be carried out as soon as cases of respiratory infections, such as fever, cough and respiratory difficulties, and should be carried out in a timely manner to prevent the spread of the disease in the ward.
The above-mentioned multi-faceted and integrated prevention strategy will effectively reduce the incidence of in-patient respiratory infections, create a safe and healthy treatment environment for in-patients and facilitate their treatment and rehabilitation.
