Avoid Infection By Maintaining a Healthy Home
Avoid Infection By Maintaining a Healthy Home
With some easy adjustments to your regular home routine, you can cut down on the infectious germs that cause such
illnesses as the cold, flu, allergies and even gastrointestinal issues. There is no need to invest in too many antibacterial products
Some germs are good as they can help your body develop antibodies to fight off infections. However, too many germs is not a good thing
and can keep you in your sick bed if you are not careful. It is often said that your home could be the biggest germ factory in your life,
spreading infection and preventing faster recovery times.
With some easy adjustments to your regular home routine, you can cut down on the infectious germs that cause such illnesses as the cold, flu,
allergies and even gastrointestinal issues. There is no need to invest in too many antibacterial products as they can be counterproductive.
Instead, regular disinfectants and soap and water work wonders. Here are some other ways to avoid infection inside the home:
- Cut down on allergens like mold, pollen and dust by investing in a HEPA filter for your central air and heating. Don't forget to replace
your air conditioning filter about once a month as well.
- If you are trying to avoid allergens like dust, pollen and mold, avoid using fans as they stir things up in the air you breathe. Also,
stick to air conditioning rather than opening windows.
- When the home is humid, invest in a dehumidifier to keep the humidity levels under 50%. This will prevent mold from growing and releasing
spores in the home.
- Get rid of carpeting as they harbor dust as well as a number of microorganisms both harmful and benign. Ditch Venetian blinds as they are
dust catchers as well. Instead look to hard wood or laminate flooring and simple window shades for the windows.
- Keep the shower and bathtub areas clean of mold. If you spray a mold killer after every shower or bath, you would not have to clean as
often. Just remember to rinse the tub out before bathing!
- Always wash your hands before handling food products. In addition, if you are handling raw meat, wash your hands before doing any other
activity such as handling plates or touching vegetables. Also, wash your work area to ensure that harmful bacteria like salmonella will not
contaminate your food.
7. Wash your bedding in hot soapy water because this will kill any harboring germs in your sheets and pillow cases.
8. Use a clothes dryer or hang your clothes inside to dry. When you hang clothes outside, pollen and other allergens from outdoors becomes
trapped in the fibers causing you to have potential allergy attacks.
9. Airborne germs are quite easy to contract. Therefore, always watch the weather channel for forecasts that are the perfect stage for
allergens and other germs to be plentiful. Hot, windy days are the absolute worst.
10. Many bugs harbor germs and can transmit diseases. Therefore, you should always wear protective clothing and use an insect repellant to
avoid getting bitten or stung.
There are countless measures in the home you can take to avoid infections. However, always remember that there are some good bacteria too
so try and be cognizant that antibacterial products will not necessarily be the best cleaning solution for you. Practicing the handy tips above
will help you stay healthy but not totally free you from the germ exposure you need to develop a better immune
system. Latest Infection Control News
05/15/2008
Health officials link outbreak of Salmonella infection to dry dog food (Pravda Ru)
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed a strong link of Salmonella infection to dry dog food. The first outbreaks of Salmonella infection were registered in 2006 and 2007. Health officials reported that about 70 people, mostly in the Northeast, were infected by dog food produced by Mars Petcare at its Pennsylvania plant.
Health officials link outbreak of Salmonella infection to dry dog food (Pravda Ru)
05/17/2008
Health officials: Measles, rubella vaccine is vital (Onalaska Community Life)
Gundersen Lutheran Infection Control urges parents to check their child’s immunization record for measles and rubella vaccination. Seven confirmed cases of measles have been identified in Wisconsin, including one from Vernon County. There are also two confirmed cases of rubella, both in the Milwaukee area.
Health officials: Measles, rubella vaccine is vital (Onalaska Community Life)
05/14/2008
Primorye beefs up virus control (Vladivostok News)
Primorye’s Department of Russia’s consumer watchdog Rospotrebnadzor has tightened control over China-imported food entering Primorye markets, as a result of a mass intestinal virus infection in southeast China’s Anhui Province which has killed 28 children.
Primorye beefs up virus control (Vladivostok News)
05/16/2008
'Virulent' bug hits two hospitals (BBC News)
Nine patients at two Scottish hospitals are affected by a 'virulent' strain of the clostridium difficile infection.
'Virulent' bug hits two hospitals (BBC News)
05/14/2008
Primorye beefs up virus control (Vladivostok News)
Primorye’s Department of Russia’s consumer watchdog Rospotrebnadzor has tightened control over China-imported food entering Primorye markets, as a result of a mass intestinal virus infection in southeast China’s Anhui Province which has killed 28 children.
Primorye beefs up virus control (Vladivostok News)
05/16/2008
'Virulent' bug hits two hospitals (BBC News)
Nine patients at two Scottish hospitals are affected by a 'virulent' strain of the clostridium difficile infection.
'Virulent' bug hits two hospitals (BBC News)
05/13/2008
St. Joseph Health System Expands Affiliation With Premier Healthcare Alliance to Include Web-Based Infection Tracking ... (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
CHARLOTTE, N.C.----The Premier healthcare alliance today announced that Orange, Calif.-based St. Joseph Health System will expand its relationship by deploying the infection control and pharmacy modules of Premier's SafetySurveillor™ in eight of its acute care hospitals in California.
St. Joseph Health System Expands Affiliation With Premier Healthcare Alliance to Include Web-Based Infection Tracking ... (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
05/16/2008
The Watchdog: Texans in dark about hospital infections (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
By Dave Lieber Your mother enters the hospital for knee-replacement surgery. Two weeks later, she's readmitted, but this time, she has to be hooked up to a ventilator because a hospital-acquired infection, resistant to antibiotics, has entered her bloodstream. She could die. Your best friend has successful cancer surgery. But while recovering, he catches a "superbug" when drug-resistant ...
The Watchdog: Texans in dark about hospital infections (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
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