Infection Prevention

What is being done to prevent infection?

At Dardanelle Regional we implement several measures to prevent the spread of infections. These include the following:

• Dardanelle Regional has an infection control specialist dedicated to preventing the spread of microbial infection.
• If a patient has an active infection, they are treated with the appropriate antibiotics.
• Isolation procedures protect patients and others when patients have contagious illnesses or are carriers of illness. Once a patient has been designated as a carrier of certain communicable diseases, such as MRSA, they are isolated each time they return to the hospital. Sometimes we isolate patients who may be vulnerable to infections as well. Although you are in isolation, some visitors may be allowed. Please check with the nurse before visiting someone who is in isolation.
• Every room is cleaned thoroughly as if everyone has an infectious disease.
• Extensive and frequent hand washing is mandated for employees at Dardanelle Regional as they exit and enter patient rooms. We also encourage all visitors to clean their hands before and after visiting patients. The most effective hand washing involves the vigorous use of antibiotic soap for at least 20 seconds making sure to wash the front and back of your hands and between your fingers. While hand gel is effective against most communicable diseases, like MRSA, it does not kill stool-based bacteria such as salmonella or C. diff.
• Covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing with a tissue or the bend of your arm is also effective in preventing the spread of germs. This keeps germs off your hands and out of the air, which decreases the chance of spreading.

Additional Resources:

For additional infection control information visit the following:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Arkansas Department of Health