If you're in a hosptial ER for a long time, what are your chances of getting sick from there?

Question

I was in the waiting room for FOUR hours, and half the people there had serious and bad illnesses, and today the day later, I sneezed alot, and generally feel out of it.

What are the chances that everytime you go into an ER, that you WILL catch something, whatever that may be?

I mean, is there a way to prevent that?

Purell, washing hands??

Anything?

It's scary.

Answer 1

You have over 20 times the risk of getting a serious infection in any hospital than if you don't go to a hospital.  But unfortunately, that is where the doctors are.

The doctors themselves have built up strong immune systems because they are healthy.  But a person with a compromised immune system (sick) is much more susceptible to contracting diseases.

Did you know that most hospitals use plain dirty water to scrub their floors?  They don't put any anti-bacterial / anti-viral anticeptic in the washwater at all (allegy reasons).  But this propogates the diseases.

Go to a small hospital that isn't so busy to reduce your risks of infection.

Answer 2

I guess it depends how low you immunity is, like if you had aids or an immune defiency you would have a problem.. If you were talking to someone who was sick you could catch it but if you stayed away from people did put your hands in you mouth you should be right x*x

Answer 3

Yes, people get some very serious infections from the ER.  Not just from breathing, but in open wounds as well.  They even track it home with them.

I personally think that EVERY person, including the patients, visitors, family of patients, doctors and medical staff, should be REQUIRED to wear a mask and rub their hands with Purrel as soon as they enter the ER.

Additionally, a self-cleaning sponge mat (roller mat) with a disinfectant should be at every entrance into an ER to disinfect shoe soles when entering or leaving.

This would give patients a much reduced risk for complications.

I think the estimate of 20 times more likely might even be a conservative estimate.  Most cases of infections in hospitals go unreported.

Answer 4

Let me give you a for example (I work in ER now 13 years)

Mom brings kid in for a cold.

Man leaving the chair before them has AIDS, Cough which he is hacking all over the place and does not use handkerchief,

Sweating profusely all over the place wiping his hand over his sweating forehead and wiping it over the counter as he spits out telling you his ailments...

It has happened more than I can count,,,and with Active TB patients too.