Reducing Infection through Enhanced Patient Knowledge
The website for the NM Department of Health http://www.health.state.nm.us/ provides disease specific recommendations that affect the spread of disease.
Our goal is to eliminate transmission of infectious diseases through enhanced knowledge. Many diseases can be transmitted from person to person in the hospital. The more information and knowledge you have, the better prepared you will be to reduce infection.
| Influenza | Influenza, or the "flu," is seasonal. The flu is caused by a virus that can cause mild to severe respiratory illness and may cause death in especially vulnerable patients, such as infants, the elderly, and those with certain chronic diseases. Every year a new strain of flu is associated with illness, which is the reason for annual vaccination with the influenza vaccine. Each hospital has an internal process to identify the need for vaccination. Remember to receive this vaccination annually. Fact sheet on the influenza vaccine |
| Pneumonia | The pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for select high-risk individuals. The facility has an internal process to identify the need for vaccination. Fact sheet on the pneumococcal vaccine |
| Vacinnations | Ensuring up to date vaccinations for the pediatric population served within our community is the best way to prevent infection. UNMH is working to make sure all patients who come here for health care receive appropriate vaccines. |