Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)
Leapfrog Hospital Quality and Safety Survey
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH)
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA)
World Health Organization (WHO)
Q1: I want to know what UCLA Health's infection rates are. Where can I find this information?
A1: Select rates are now publicly reported and can be viewed on the California Department of Public Health website.
Q2: What are COVID-19 visitor guidelines?
A2: Please visit the UCLA Health Visitor Guidelines website.
Q3: I am a patient. What can I do to lower my risk of infection in the hospital?
A3: The #1 thing you can do to reduce the risk of infection is make sure that anyone coming into your room (e.g. visitors, doctors, nurses) has washed their hands. We encourage you to ask our staff if they have performed hand hygiene before caring for you.
Q4: UCLA is one of the top hospitals in the county. What is UCLA doing to keep me free of infection?
A4: Delivery of safe, quality care is a key focus of the UCLA Health. Some of the many things UCLA Health is doing to help keep patients infection-free are: using UV disinfection to rid surfaces of germs, consistent monitoring staff hand hygiene practices, and providing certain populations of patients with topical antiseptic bath treatments during hospitalization.
Q5: What is VRE?
A5: VRE stands for vancomycin-resistant enterococcus. Enterococcus is a germ that lives in the intestinal tract and in the female genital tract. Usually, enterococcus does not cause a problem. This is called colonization. Occasionally, enterococcus can cause an infection of the urinary tract, bloodstream, or wounds. Vancomycin is an antibiotic that can be used to treat those infections. However, some enterococcus germs are no longer killed by vancomycin and are known as vancomycin-resistant enterococcus or "VRE." These germs are often resistant to many antibiotics in addition to vancomycin.
Q6: What is C. diff?
A6: Clostridioides difficile (pronounced klos-TRID-e-OY-dees dif-uh-SEEL), also known as "C. diff" (See-diff), is a germ that can cause diarrhea. Most cases of C. diff infection occur in patients taking antibiotics. The most common symptoms of a C. diff infection include: watery diarrhea, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, and belly pain and tenderness.
Q7: I had MRSA a long time ago. Do I still need isolation?
A7: Once you have tested positive for MRSA, you typically will not need to isolate. However, there may be certain health conditions which may require you be on isolation during your hospital stay.
Q8: I am a patient and am on isolation when I'm in the hospital. Can I still go for walks outside my room?
A8: In many instances, patients on isolation can leave their room with assistance. You will be required to wear protective gear such as a surgical mask as part of universal masking when leaving your room. It is important to have clean clothing and clean hands when leaving your room. Certain health conditions, however, may require you stay in your room.
