Healthcare Professionals: Carriers or Defenders Against Infections?

Are healthcare practitioners, including physicians, nurses, patient care technicians, and respiratory therapists, carriers or transmitters of infections?

No. You are in a unique position to protect both patients and yourself. In my daily routine, I wash my hands 30 to 50 times a day. I clean my room, my phone, chairs, doorknobs, and everything else several times a day. At the end of every day, the ritual is repeated. Our lab cleans between every single patient to ensure stringent hygiene measures.

Strict Hygiene Protocols

If you are acutely ill and contagious, you can't come through our door without a mask. Our lab cleans every surface you touch right in front of you, and if you try to sneak your mask off, you will be warned once. A second attempt to remove the mask will result in your immediate expulsion. I ensure my patients are seen in a special room, our "sick room," to minimize exposure to other patients. No chemo patient of mine will die because you feel a mask is uncomfortable. Cancer is uncomfortable.
We have too many fragile patients for me to indulge your dislike of wearing a mask.

It's not about bringing disease to you; it's about you bringing it to me.

Areas of Greatest Concern

My greatest worry is not the emergency rooms or urgent care waiting rooms, where the risk of infection transmission is high due to the transient nature of patients. My primary concern is public places, such as shopping carts. Whenever people cough or sneeze, I hold my breath instinctively. Most people do not make an effort to cover their mouths, which is mind-numbingly unhealthy, selfish, and just plain disgusting. I wish Americans cared enough to wear masks like in Japan.

Universal Precautions

Furthermore, it is rumored that if you were to swab our noses, the majority of practitioners would test positive for MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) carriers. However, this does not negate the importance of rigorous hand hygiene and glove usage. Universal precautions are as much to protect the patient from us as they are to protect us from whatever cooties the patient may have.

Thought-provoking as it is, the truth is that we, as healthcare professionals, are tirelessly dedicated to preventing the spread of infections. It's disappointing that in every room of the medical practice where I work, very few people pay attention to the critical importance of hygiene. Imagine the consequences of not adhering to these protocols. Everything we touch in public places could potentially be a vector for disease, making the world a more hostile environment.

It's time to reflect on our actions and take responsibility. Children in elementary school are taught to cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing. However, it is adults who often fail to heed this advice. Let's collectively take steps to ensure a safer and healthier environment for everyone.

In conclusion, healthcare professionals are not carriers but rather the forefront in the battle against infections. Through strict hygiene protocols and awareness, we can make a significant difference in public health.