There is the possibility of contracting and transmitting diseases through harmful bacteria and germs, even in the hospital environment. Ideally, a hospital should be among the cleanest and most hygienic places. Patients, who are in their most vulnerable state, are likely to recover more quickly, when shielded from harmful germs and bacteria, which could aggravate their conditions. But this goes two ways, as visitors to the hospital can also come down with diseases and illnesses, after being unduly exposed.

So, due to several factors, including poor hygiene and lack of infection control, people visiting hospital might get infected. Health Experts have, therefore, urged hospital management to observe high standard level of hygiene with regards to hospital facilities and equipment, which should be properly sterilised, as well as ensure that the environment is clean and properly ventilated.

Prof. Oni Idigbe, former Director General of Nigeria Institute of Medical Research, said nosocomial infections (hospital acquired infections) occur, when a visitor is susceptible, which increases the chances of disease transmission.
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According to Idigbe, the source of an infection might be the host or the susceptible visitor. There could also be a transmission medium, usually through blood and blood products. So, most people get infected when they visit hospital because the patient is infected with a particular disease and the visitor is susceptible.

“Infection controls are guidelines and principles guiding hospitals. And all these guidelines and principles must be observed to avoid nosocomial infections. Ways to prevent contracting these infections include washing of hands, tidying up the environment, mopping benches and not using contaminated instruments among others. All these are called infection control. Any hospital that wants to minimise nosocomial infections must have infection control, including all these infection control strategies.

“For instance, in the case of tuberculosis (TB), patient must observe cough hygiene, which is part of infection control. If a patient suffering from TB wants to cough, it is imperative that he/she covers his/her mouth and nose with a handkerchief or wears a facemask. This is because each time the patient coughs, TB bacteria come through with the cough and any susceptible person around, who inhaled these, would likely get infected. Avoiding crowded places could help one to avoid TB infections.

“Hospitals need to take precautions by telling visiting individuals what to do to avoid contracting TB infections. Usually, individuals are not allowed to go into the TB wards without wearing facemasks or covering their faces with a handkerchief, because it is highly contagious. So, before individuals go into such wards, there must be infection control. It is incumbent on hospitals and their staff members to apply infection control strategies and educate people on what to do, when they come to the hospital”.

For Mrs. Adekoya Abiola, a retired nurse, a lot depends on the level of hygiene at the hospitals. She explained that there are hospitals that do not apply infection control, which makes it all the more easier, to contract diseases and infections. Said she: “For instance, if a woman who is HIV/AIDS positive is pregnant and wants to put to bed, the nurse that would assist her must put on necessary preventive materials such as hand gloves, gowns and others to avoid contracting the infections. Even the placenta that comes out of the woman must be disinfected properly, as it cannot be disposed of anyhow.
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“There are hospitals, where cleaners do not wear gloves, which is not advisable. There are some called droplet infections, which can be contracted even in the bus. For example, if someone infected with tuberculosis coughs and the person close to him inhale it, he/she might get infected, especially when such person has low immunity.

“Many private hospitals do not employ registered nurses because of financial constraints. Rather, they employ auxiliary nurses and train them, but patients are not aware of this”.

“Every hospital must teach their workers how to use infection control, which must be applied even in our homes. It is important that we use disinfectant soaps and liquids to mop the floor and frequently used surfaces because droplets in the floor can lead to disease contraction.
“Before my retirement, I worked in both government and private hospitals. Infection controls are observed more in government hospitals than private ones.”