Transcript Preventing Hospitalization - Foundation for Better Health

Preventing Hospitalization
Mimi H. Baugh MSN, RN-BC, RAC-CT
Bacterial
Pneumonia
What is Bacterial Pneumonia?
• Infection of the lung caused by bacteria germs
• The streptococcus pneumoniae germ is the
most common cause of bacterial pneumonia
Who's at risk?
• Over 65 years
• Have chronic illnesses like Parkinson’s disease,
diabetes, kidney disease, or heart disease
• Have any lung diseases such as asthma, COPD
• Have any diseases that may weaken your
immune system such as, cancer, HIV/AIDS
• Are taking medicines that may weaken your
immune system such as prednisone
• Are a smoker
What are the signs?
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High fever (up to 105 degrees)
Tiredness (less energy)
Rapid breathing
Chills
Cough with mucus (might be greenish or have blood)
Chest pain, especially with coughing or deep
breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of appetite
How is it treated?
• Bacterial pneumonia is usually treated with
antibiotics
• In some cases, the person may stay in the
hospital for treatment
• Hospital treatments may include:
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Oxygen
Fluids and medicines given through an IV
Breathing treatments and exercises to help loosen mucus
With treatment, usually improves within 24 to 48 hours
Steps to prevention
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If you do smoke, stop
Wash your hands
Get plenty of rest
Eat a healthy diet
Stay physically active
Don’t use alcohol heavily
Get a yearly flu shot
Get a pneumococcal vaccine
Urinary Track
Infection
UTI
What is a UTI?
• A UTI is a condition where one or more parts
of the urinary system (kidneys, ureters,
bladder, and urethra) become infected
• UTIs are the most common of all bacterial
infections and can occur at any time in the life
of an individual
• Diabetes/chronic diseases that affect the
immune system may decrease your resistance
to infection
Who's at risk?
• People of any age can get UTIs
• More women get UTIs than men
• Diabetes or problems with the body’s natural
defense system
• Need a tube to drain their bladder (catheter)
• Urinary tract abnormalities that block the flow
of urine
• Spinal cord injuries or other nerve damage
What are the signs?
• Frequent and intense urge to urinate
• Painful, burning feeling in the bladder or urethra during
urination
• Feeling tired, shaky, and weak
• Muscle aches
• Abdominal pain
• Only small amounts of urine passed, despite a strong urge to
urinate
• Cloudy, dark, or bloody urine or urine that has a foul smell
• Pain in the back or side below the ribs
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever may indicate a kidney or prostate infection
How is it treated?
• Antibiotics that can kill the bacteria causing
the infection
• The antibiotic prescribed will depend on the
type of bacteria causing your UTI
• The length of treatment depends on:
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Severity of the infection
Bacteria resistance to the antibiotic
Repeat infections
Urinary tract abnormality that blocks the flow of urine
Men may need longer treatment because bacteria can
hide deep inside prostate tissue
Steps to prevention
• Drink plenty of water throughout the day. This will
allow your urine to be less concentrated and cause
you to void more frequently.
• Empty your bladder every 3-4 hours
• After urinating, a woman should only wipe from
front to back.
Steps to prevention
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Avoid constipation
Void immediately before and after intercourse
Avoid potentially irritating feminine products
Use cotton underwear and loose-fitting clothes
Chronic
Obstructive
Pulmonary
Disease
COPD
What is COPD?
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is an
illness that makes it hard to breathe
• COPD generally involves a combination of
chronic bronchitis and emphysema
• People with COPD are more likely to get
respiratory infections
Who's at risk for COPD?
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Cigarette smoker
Age older than 40 years
Exposure to occupational dust and chemicals
Exposure to indoor air pollution
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
Who's at risk for COPD?
Occupational Risk Factors:
• Cooks
• Furnace workers
• Grain farmers
• Miners
• Women who cook over open fires
• Railroad workers (from exposure to diesel
exhaust)
What are the signs of COPD?
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Constant coughing
Shortness of breath
Producing a lot of sputum
Feeling like you can't breathe or take a deep
breath
• Wheezing
How is it treated?
• Medications for management of symptoms
• If severe, oxygen therapy may be used to help
with shortness of breath
– Be sure to understand how to safely use oxygen
• Pulmonary Rehabilitation
• Surgery
Steps to prevention
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If you are a smoker, Stop smoking
If you don't smoke, don't start
Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke
Make your home smoke-free
Take care to protect yourself against chemicals, dust
and fumes in your home and at work
Dehydration
What is dehydration?
• Dehydration occurs when you lose more fluid than
you take in, and your body doesn't have enough
water and other fluids to carry out its normal
functions, your system literally dries out
• If you don't replace lost fluids, you have an increased
risk for becoming dehydrated
Who’s at risk?
• Age
• Living in a nursing home
• Neurological conditions, such Stroke or Cerebral
Palsy
• Memory problems or Dementia
• Chronic medical conditions
• Athletic competition
Who's at risk?
• Diarrhea,Vomiting,Fever
• Exposure to heat & sun, Excessive sweating/exercise
• Medications, including: Diuretics (water pills)&
Laxatives
• Fluid imbalance caused by illnesses, such as:
– Diabetes mellitus
– Diabetes Insipidus
– Lung disease
– Kidney problems
– Burns
What are the signs?
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Dry, sticky mouth
Sleepiness or tiredness
Thirst
Decreased urine output
Few or no tears when crying
Dry skin
Sunken eyes
Headache
Constipation
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Irritability and confusion in adults
Little or no urination — any urine that is produced will be dark yellow or
amber
How’s it treated?
• Therapy aims to rehydrate the body, replace lost electrolytes,
and prevent complications
• If an underlying cause is identified, therapies to treat that
condition may be included if appropriate
• Unfortunately, thirst isn't always a reliable gauge of the body's
need for water, especially in children and older adults
• A better indicator is the color of your urine: Clear or lightcolored urine means you're well hydrated, whereas a dark
yellow or amber color usually signals dehydration
Steps to prevention
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Take water breaks throughout the day
Take a sip of water when you pass a water fountain
Carry a bottle of water with you
Drink a beverage with each meal
Drink more when exercising
Consider foods as sources of water
Keep cool
Next to oxygen, water is the
nutrient most needed for
life
A person can live without
food for a month, but most
people can survive only
three or four days without
water
References
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http://www.cdc.gov/copd/pdfs/framework_for_copd_prevention.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/features/pneumonia/
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/pneumonia/hic_pneumonia.aspx
http://www.drugs.com/cg/bacterial-pneumonia.html
http://www.hhs.gov/opa/reproductive-health/general-reproductive-health/urinary-tractinfections/
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/utiadult/
https://www.knowcopd.com/copd-lungs.jsp
http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/copd/about-copd/symptoms-diagnosis-treatment.html
http://nihseniorhealth.gov/copd/treatingcopd/01.html
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000145.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/urinarytractinfections.html
http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/how_antibiotics_used_treating_urinary_tract_infec
tions_000036_8.htm
http://www.thoracic.org/clinical/copd-guidelines/for-patients/what-are-the-signs-andsymptoms-of-copd.php
http://www.urologyhealth.org/urology/index.cfm?article=47
http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/quotable/quote67.htm
An ounce of prevention
is worth a pound of
cure.
Benjamin Franklin