How do people get infected by germs?
Germs use various routes to enter the body and make someone ill. Different types can enter in the following ways:
- Breathed in or consumed
- Through a break in the skin via cuts and wounds
- Through the eyes or nose
- Via medical equipment such as catheters that are inserted directly into the body (eg into the stomach or vein)
People at risk
About one in five people are more vulnerable to infection, these groups are outlined below along with the factors that make each of them more at risk. In addition to everyday Hotspot Hygiene cleaning techniques, people in these risk groups, or those caring for them, need to be extra careful.
Just home from hospital
- Immune system may be weakened
- Ongoing treatment / medication may weaken immunity
- Wounds can become infected
- Medical equipment can become infected if not kept hygienically clean/sterile
The Elderly
- Immune systems weaken with age
- May be bedridden, leading to bed sores
- Chest infections can be more serious
Babies under one
- Immune system not fully developed
- Common infections such as diarrhoea and chest infections can be more serious
Children under five
- Immune system not fully developed
- Children are adventurous, they crawl all over the place and have a tendancy
to put things in their mouth
Pregnant women
- Immune system temporarily weakened
- Very high fever and some infections can affect
the unborn baby:
- Rubella
- Chicken pox
- Parvovirus B19
- Listeria
- Toxoplasma
