You go to the hospital to get well, but did you know that many patients can get additional infections while being treated there? 1 in 25 hospitalized patients have an infection caused by their medical care. 1 in 9 will die. One growing and especially concerning threat to patients in healthcare facilities is antibiotic resistance – when bacteria beat out the drugs made to fight them. Every year, at least 2 million people in and out of healthcare facilities become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and 23,000 die as a result.
These statistics are a good reminder of why it's important to be an informed, empowered and prepared patient. Do you know what steps you can take to protect yourself? Do you know what questions you should ask your doctor and what preventive actions you should practice while in the hospital? Can you recognize the signs and symptoms of an infection? Knowing this information can protect your health and may save your life.
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