Preventing Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections that people develop while receiving medical care in a healthcare setting. This includes care at Grand Rapids hospitals like Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, Mercy Health facilities, outpatient clinics, nursing homes, rehab centers, and even home health care.

An infection is caused by micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites—often called “germs.” When these germs spread in healthcare settings, they can cause serious illness, longer hospital stays, and delayed recovery.

In Grand Rapids, all major healthcare systems follow strict infection prevention and control policies, but patients and families also play an important role in reducing risk.

What Are Healthcare-Associated Infections?

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections that:

  • Were not present before you received care
  • Develop during or soon after a hospital stay, clinic visit, surgery, or long-term care stay

Common HAIs include:

  • Bloodstream infections
  • Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  • Surgical wound infections
  • Pneumonia and other respiratory infections

Bacteria Are the Most Common Cause of HAIs

While viruses and fungi can also cause HAIs, bacteria are the most frequent cause. Some bacteria have become resistant to common antibiotics and are sometimes called “superbugs,” including:

  • MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) – often called “golden staph”
  • VRE (vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus)
  • CPE (carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae)

These infections can be harder to treat and may require specialized care at larger hospitals such as Spectrum Health or Trinity Health Grand Rapids.

Who Is at Higher Risk for HAIs in Grand Rapids?

Anyone admitted to a hospital or receiving medical care has some risk of an HAI. However, certain people in West Michigan are more vulnerable, including:

  • Premature babies and very sick children
  • Older adults and frail individuals (a growing group in the Grand Rapids area)
  • People with weakened immune systems, such as:
    • Cancer patients receiving chemotherapy
    • People on long-term steroids or immune-suppressing medications
    • People with HIV/AIDS or other immune disorders
  • People with chronic conditions common in Michigan, such as:
    • Diabetes
    • Heart disease
    • Kidney disease
    • Chronic lung disease (COPD, asthma)

Risk Factors That Increase HAI Risk

Your risk of a healthcare-associated infection may be higher if you:

  • Have surgery
    • Longer or more complex operations carry more risk
  • Stay in the hospital for a long time
    • The longer your stay at a Grand Rapids facility, the more chances germs have to spread
  • Have invasive devices or procedures, such as:
    • Urinary catheters
    • IV lines (cannulas)
    • Central lines
    • Respiratory equipment (ventilators, breathing tubes)
    • Drain tubes
  • Have breaks in the skin, including:
    • Surgical incisions
    • Wounds and ulcers
    • Burns
    • Pressure sores
  • Experience poor hand hygiene around you
    • If staff, visitors, or even patients themselves do not clean their hands properly

In Michigan’s colder months, winter respiratory infections (like flu, RSV, and pneumonia) are especially common, which can increase the risk of HAIs related to the lungs, especially in hospitalized patients.

Common Types of Healthcare-Associated Infections

The most common HAIs seen in hospitals and clinics in Grand Rapids include:

  • Pneumonia (lung infection)
    • Especially in patients using ventilators or with chronic lung disease
  • Bloodstream infections
    • Often related to IV lines or central venous catheters
  • Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
    • Frequently associated with urinary catheters
  • Surgical site or wound infections
    • Occur after surgery or in chronic wounds

Many of these infections can be treated successfully with antibiotics, but some can become serious or life-threatening, especially when caused by resistant bacteria.

How Grand Rapids Hospitals Work to Prevent HAIs

Major healthcare providers in Grand Rapids—Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health—use evidence-based infection prevention strategies, including:

Infection Control Procedures and Policies

  • Strict sterile techniques during:
    • Surgery
    • Wound care
    • Insertion and care of medical devices (IV lines, catheters, drains)
  • Routine cleaning and disinfection of:
    • Patient rooms
    • Operating rooms
    • High-touch surfaces and medical equipment
  • Isolation precautions when needed:
    • Private rooms
    • Use of gowns, gloves, and masks

Hand Hygiene

  • Frequent and correct hand hygiene by all staff, patients, and visitors
    • Use of alcohol-based hand rubs
    • Handwashing with soap and running water

Appropriate Antibiotic Use

  • Antibiotic stewardship programs to:
    • Use the right antibiotic, at the right dose, for the right length of time
    • Reduce the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Surveillance and Monitoring

  • Tracking infection rates within hospitals
  • Reporting and reviewing trends to improve infection prevention practices
  • Collaboration with Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health on infection control and outbreak response

How to Prepare Before a Hospital Stay in Grand Rapids

If you are scheduled for surgery or a hospital admission at a Grand Rapids facility, there are steps you can take to lower your risk of an HAI.

Before Admission

  • Stop smoking
    • Smoking damages your lungs and slows healing
    • This is especially important before surgery or during cold Michigan winters when respiratory infections are more common
  • Inform your doctor about all illnesses
    • Tell your surgeon or hospital team if you have:
      • A cold or flu
      • Fever
      • Cough or shortness of breath
    • A minor illness can become a serious chest infection after surgery
  • Manage your diabetes
    • Keep blood sugar under control; high blood sugar increases infection risk
    • Work with your primary care provider or endocrinologist before surgery
  • Maintain a healthy weight
    • People who are overweight have a higher risk of surgical site infections
  • Follow all pre-surgery instructions
    • Special soap showers, fasting instructions, or medication adjustments as directed by your Grand Rapids care team

How to Reduce Infection Risk During Your Hospital Stay

While you are in a Grand Rapids hospital or healthcare facility, you can actively help prevent HAIs.

Practice Good Hand Hygiene

  • Clean your hands often, especially:
    • After using the restroom
    • Before eating
    • After touching bandages, drains, or medical devices
  • Use:
    • Soap and running water, or
    • Alcohol-based hand sanitizer provided in your room or hallways

Speak Up About Hand Hygiene

  • Do not hesitate to ask staff:
    • “Did you clean your hands?” or “Would you please sanitize your hands before you examine me?”
  • Encourage visitors to:
    • Clean their hands when entering and leaving your room

Watch for Signs of Infection

Tell your nurse or doctor right away if you notice:

  • IV or catheter issues
    • Redness, swelling, pain, or leaking around IV sites
    • Burning or pain when urinating if you have a urinary catheter
    • Tubes or catheters that feel out of place
  • Wound problems
    • Dressings that are not clean, dry, and secure
    • Increased pain, redness, swelling, or drainage from a wound or incision
  • New symptoms
    • Fever or chills
    • Diarrhea
    • Shortness of breath or new cough

Respiratory Hygiene

  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow when you cough or sneeze
  • Dispose of tissues in the trash and clean your hands afterward

Visitors and Illness

  • Ask friends and family who are sick (with colds, flu, COVID-19, or stomach bugs) not to visit until they are well, especially during Michigan’s winter respiratory virus season.

Antibiotics and HAIs

If you are prescribed antibiotics:

  • Always complete the full course unless your doctor tells you to stop
  • Do not share antibiotics or use leftover antibiotics
  • Ask questions, such as:
    • “Why do I need this antibiotic?”
    • “How long should I take it?”
    • “What side effects should I watch for?”

Using antibiotics correctly helps treat infections effectively and reduces the chance of creating resistant “superbugs.”

What to Expect If You Get an Infection in the Hospital

If you develop an HAI while receiving care in Grand Rapids, your healthcare team will:

  • Start appropriate treatment
    • Usually antibiotics or antiviral medications, depending on the infection
  • Order tests
    • Blood tests, cultures, or imaging to identify the germ and best treatment

To prevent spreading the infection to others, they may:

  • Move you to a single room with your own bathroom
  • Use protective equipment
    • Staff may wear gloves, gowns, masks, or eye protection when entering your room
  • Limit or manage visitors
    • Visitors may be asked to wear protective gear and follow strict hand hygiene

These measures protect other patients, staff, and visitors while you receive treatment.

Local Resources for Infection Prevention in Grand Rapids

If you have questions or concerns about infection prevention or your care:

  • Talk to your care team first
    • Your nurse
    • Your doctor or surgeon
    • The hospital’s infection control department
  • Local public health resources
    • Kent County Health Department
    • Grand Rapids Public Health programs and community clinics

These organizations provide information on infectious diseases, vaccines, and community health programs across West Michigan.

What to Do If You Are Unhappy With Your Healthcare

If you are concerned about how an infection was handled or about any aspect of your care:

  1. Speak directly with your nurse or doctor
    • This is often the fastest way to resolve problems.
  2. Ask to speak with:
    • The unit manager or charge nurse
    • Patient relations or patient advocacy at the hospital
  3. If your concern is not resolved, you can contact:
    • The hospital’s administration or quality department
    • State or regional health complaint resources for further review

Key Points About Preventing HAIs in Grand Rapids

  • Bacteria are the most common cause of healthcare-associated infections.
  • Everyone admitted to a Grand Rapids hospital has some risk of an HAI.
  • Risk is higher if you are very sick, have surgery, stay longer, or have invasive devices.
  • Common HAIs include pneumonia, bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections, and wound infections.
  • Prevention works best when hospitals and patients work together, using:
    • Good hand hygiene
    • Proper care of wounds and devices
    • Careful use of antibiotics
    • Early reporting of concerning symptoms

By staying informed, asking questions, and following infection prevention steps, patients and families in Grand Rapids can help reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections and support safer care in our community.