Oncology and transplant services infection control (1035)

Key points below

There are different kinds of infections that can make your child sick while receiving medicines that weaken the immune system. Your child could be at risk to get bacterial, viral or fungal infections. The below instructions may keep your child from getting an infection.

Hand hygiene

Use alcohol-based sanitizer or
Scrub hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

Hand hygiene should be done:

Every time you enter the inpatient unit, oncology clinic, or day hospital
Every time you enter or exit a patient room.
Before handling food or eating.
After eating.
After personal hygiene.
After diaper changes.
Before mouth care or other patient hygiene.

Visitors

A healthcare worker will screen all visitors to the inpatient unit for infections and illness including exposure to chickenpox. This is for the safety of all patients.

All visitors (including all family members) must be healthy with no fever, cold, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, or exposure to chickenpox. Visitors of patients in isolation (Contact, Contact/Droplet, Droplet, Airborne) will not be allowed in the inpatient common areas. They will have to stay in the patient room.
Siblings are not allowed in the inpatient unit playroom or teen lounge.

Eating and drinking

Eating and drinking is allowed in patient rooms.
Food should be stored or disposed of in a timely manner.

Room

For patients in rooms with two sets of doors, open and close doors one at a time.
Live flowers and plants are not allowed in patient rooms (but are allowed at home).
Latex balloons are not allowed in the hospital.
Housekeeping will clean each patient room and bathroom daily.
Your child’s bed will be changed out every 10 days.
Your child will move to a new room every 20 days.
Clutter in the room should be kept to small amount. It is important to have areas clear and able to be easily cleaned by housekeeping staff.

Parents may use their child’s bathroom and shower. Sometimes your child will still get an infection even if you do everything possible to protect your child. This is no one’s fault. It is a known risk of receiving medicines that weaken the immune system.

For more information

https://kidshealth.org/ChildrensWi/en/parents

ALERT

Call your child’s doctor, nurse, or clinic if you have any questions or concerns or if your child has special health care needs that were not covered by this information.