Infectious Disease
There have been plenty of news stories and lots of concern about infectious diseases over the past few years. Caused by virus, bacteria, fungi, or parasites, infectious diseases, which includes conditions like the flu, measles, whopping cough, Ebola, all demand particular treatment. Physicians and staff at Mary Greeley Medical Center have been trained to offer care for a range of conditions.
Infectious Disease in Healthcare
Preparation is key for health care professionals. They encounter infectious diseases every day, and prepare for infection control, too. Mary Greeley Medical Center is committed to efficient, compassionate, culture-sensitive care for conditions including:
- Infections by resistant bacteria, such as MRSA and C. diff
- Infections occurring in people with a weak immune system (for instance, people with diabetes, receiving chemotherapy, or receiving prolonged courses of steroids)
- Infections in returning travelers
- Infections requiring prolonged treatment, such as those affecting the bone (osteomyelitis) or the inner layer of the heart (endocarditis)
- HIV and its complications
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Fever or weight loss of unclear cause
- Consultation and vaccinations for prospective travelers
Equipped for Your Safety
If your doctor wants you to be kept away, or isolated, from other patients while you receive medical care, you may be in a special hospital room, called an isolation room, to keep you separate from other people. This may be done because you have an infection that can be spread to others or because your condition makes you more easily infected by others.
Mary Greeley Medical Center is equipped with special rooms to protect you, your friends and family, as well as hospital staff.
Negative Air Pressure Rooms
Sometimes isolation rooms use negative air pressure. This helps prevent airborne diseases (such as tuberculosis or flu) from escaping the room and infecting other people. A machine pulls air into the room. Then it filters the air before moving it outside.
In a negative air pressure room, you may be able to feel air being sucked into the room under a closed door or through a slightly opened window.
Positive Air Pressure Rooms
In other cases, such as when a person has a weakened immune system, positive air pressure may be used. Clean, filtered air is constantly pumped into the room. This is done to keep contagious diseases out of the room.
With this type of isolation room, you may be able to feel air blowing out of the room under a closed door.
What Can You Expect While in Isolation?
- Everyone who enters or leaves the room needs to wash his or her hands thoroughly.
- You may be allowed to have visitors. But all visitors and hospital workers must wear masks, gowns, and gloves. In some cases, only certain family members may be allowed to visit. Children may not be allowed. People who have colds, the flu, or other illnesses won't be allowed.
- The door to your room may need to stay closed at all times.
- You may need to stay in your room, except for tests or procedures that can't be done in your room.
