“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” — Benjamin Franklin
How To Avoid Infections At Home
Infections can pose significant risks, especially for those with compromised immune systems, such as post-surgery or transplant patients. An earlier post Infections After An Organ Transplant unpacks specific Infection Types, Symptoms, and Treatment post transplant. This post is a guide to avoiding infections after your organ transplant. Here are some practical tips to help prevent infections and ensure your health remains optimal.
Hand Washing
Frequent hand washing is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to prevent infection. Clean your hands thoroughly:
- Before handling food or eating
- After touching raw meat
- After using the toilet
- After changing nappies
- After cleaning garbage or waste
- After using a handkerchief or tissue
- After touching animals
Proper hand hygiene has been shown to reduce the transmission of colds and flus significantly. The increased public awareness about hygiene practices due to COVID-19 has helped many avoid common infections in recent years. However, with the immediate pandemic threat over there is potential for old habits of poor hygiene impacting on vulnerable immunocompromised transplant recipients.
Personal Hygiene
Maintaining good personal hygiene is critical:
- Showering/Bathing: Bathe daily to prevent infections, especially when you have healing surgical wounds. Use gentle antiseptic soaps. My whole family uses Phisohex as it is gentle and PH balanced.
- Avoid Sharing Towels: Don’t share hand towels and change them, along with tea towels and dishcloths, regularly to prevent cross-contamination.
- Public Spas: Avoid public spa baths to minimise exposure to microorganisms.
How To Care For a Wound
Cuts and Open Wounds
- Clean Wounds: Use antiseptic solutions to clean wounds and cover them daily.
- Monitor for Infection: If wounds become painful, red, or develop pus, seek medical advice promptly.
- Keep Antibiotics Ready: Having a supply of antibiotic ointments and scripts for oral antibiotics can be beneficial, especially during weekends when medical services are limited.
I always have Chlorsig eye ointment at the ready in my first aid drawer as it is the strongest antibiotic ointment you can get over the counter without a script. I also always have a script for oral and topical antibiotics just in case I get a cut or scratch or insect bite, which I find always happens on a weekend when the Doctors are also having a weekend!
You will notice that your skin will be super thin and may tear and bruise easily due to the Prednisone.
How To Promote Dental Hygiene
- Brushing and Flossing: Brush and floss your teeth twice a day and clean your tongue gently to avoid damage.
- Toothbrush Replacement: Replace your toothbrush every two months.
- Dental Visits: Attend dental check-ups twice a year. Poor dental hygiene can lead to serious infections in your bloodstream and heart valves.
- Antibiotic Cover: You may need antibiotics before dental procedures to prevent infections. Keep a script ready for your next visit.
How To Avoid Common Childhood Infections
Children are susceptible to infections, particularly young children who attend day care, kindergarten and primary school. Common infections in children include:
- Common cold
- Diarrhoea
- Otitis media
- Strep throat
- Bronchiolitis
- Conjunctivitis
- Influenza
- Pneumonia
- Urinary tract infection
Transplant patients and immune suppressed patients need to take precautions around children. Following the tips included in this post is advisable. Hand washing, covering sneezes and coughs, sanitising touch points all seem basic. However, teaching children these simple personal hygiene routines are vital to transplant patient health and the ongoing health of family, friends, carers, teachers and contacts.
Of particular concern is:
Chickenpox Risk: Transplant patients can contract chickenpox from children. If exposed and you haven’t had chickenpox before, contact your transplant team immediately.
Vaccination against chickenpox and shingles is typically part of the pre-transplant preparation. In Australia the Shingles vaccine is not covered by the PBS unless you are over 70 years old. You will need two shots. Make sure you never receive the live vaccine after transplant as you are immunocompromised. For more information read the post on Transplant Transplant Vaccinations Requirements. Requirements.
Household Pets, How to Avoid Potential Infection Risk
- Pet Grooming: Keep pets clean and groomed regularly. We wash Winnie every week as she runs through the bush on her daily walks.
- Litter Trays: Ensure litter trays are cleaned frequently, preferably by someone else.
- Avoid High-Risk Animals: Cats, kittens, puppies, dogs and any pet kept in a cage is a potential infection risk
If you have a puppy or kitten then you are at increased risk of a bite or scratch as they learn to be more controlled. The team was relieved I was going home to a 2 year old dog that was “being” well trained although still very playful and excited!!!
Pets kept in cages like guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters etc pose a risk. Have their cages/hutches cleaned weekly by someone else.
Birds Are an Infection Risk
All birds can carry diseases harmful to transplant recipients. Consult with your transplant team regarding the safety of having birds or other high-risk pets.
On day 8 after my transplant a Transplant Educator told me that I must get rid of my 5 year old hand raised Parrot, Elvy. I was devastated!
Our eldest daughter arranged for Elvy to move in with her good friend so we get regular updates. Elvy loves his new home as someone is always usually at home, he can fly around out of his cage and he has other bird friends to play with.
As hard as it was, it was not worth risking my health and Wednesday’s gift. Be on the front foot with this one if you are waiting for a transplant. Play it safe, consult with the transplant team if you have a bird or avery.
Remember: If you are bitten or scratched by an animal or bird you need to treat the injury thoroughly, seek medical advice, even if it is not painful and only superficial. Our skin is thinner and less protective as a barrier to infection.
How To Avoid Infections Cleaning and Gardening
- Avoiding Dust: Try to avoid dusty environments. Cleaning can stir up dust which carries bacteria, moulds, fungi particles which are potentially harmful to transplant recipients. If unavoidable, wear a quality protection mask, gloves and safety glasses. If possible ensure good ventilation.
- Gardening Precautions: Wet soil and potting mix before use to minimise dust. Always wear a mask, glasses, and gloves while gardening.
- Sun Protection: Don’t forget sun protection as anti-rejection drugs can make your skin more sensitive to sunburn. I even started to carry a hat, sunglasses, scarf to wrap around my neck and decolletage and sunscreen in our cars. You never know when you may need them to be sun safe.
How To Avoid Infections During Normal Socialising
- Returning to Normal Life: Engage with family and friends, and participate in regular activities. Your immune system should generally handle these exposures when these contacts are in good health.
- Avoid Sick People: Steer clear of anyone showing symptoms of infection. I now call or even facetime people if they are sick to catch up. Every flu season I am very selective about outings in public. Without curbing my lifestyle too much I am mindful to avoid crowded indoor places.
- Use of Masks: Wearing a mask in crowded places or public transport can help prevent catching infections.
These tips can help you maintain your health and prevent infections, especially with a compromised immune system. Always consult with your healthcare provider for personalised advice and strategies tailored to your specific health needs.
Related posts for further reading include: Types of Organ Donation, Infections From Donated Organs, Battling Hair Loss After Heart Transplant: A Personal Journey and Understanding Constrictive Pericarditis.
You are welcome to share your story by leaving a message in the comment section below.
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These references provide comprehensive information on handwashing, personal hygiene, and preventing infections post-transplant.
References
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/index.html
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2022). Personal Hygiene: Benefits, Creating a Routine, and More. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/hygiene/art-20057838
WebMD. (n.d.). Living with immunosuppression after an organ transplant. WebMD. Retrieved June 13, 2024, from https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/organ-transplants-antirejection-medicines-topic-overview
