Going to the hospital can be nerve-wracking as it is, but getting sick in conjunction with already being treated for an injury or illness is an outcome no one wants. A Healthcare-Associated Infection, or HAI, is just that, contracting a secondary infection when the patient is hospitalized for something different. This is an unfortunate reality for many as the frequency of hospital visits increase due to viruses and injuries. The CDC found that roughly 1 in 25 hospital goers contract at least one HAI during their stay. These infections specifically affect blood/surgery sites and urinary tracts through various ways like tools that aren’t cleaned or used properly. Though these HAIs are preventable, they are becoming seemingly unavoidable as hospitals across the country fall victim to overcrowding, understaffing, and a large influx in patients as cold and flu season creeps closer. Understanding these infections and their control guidelines are the only ways to try and combat these additional sicknesses.

The first Monday of September is a day typically spent with friends and family to enjoy a day off work, but do you ever stop to think about what it is we’re celebrating? More than one final barbeque to signify the last days of summer, Labor Day is meant to recognize the labor movement of the late 19^th century and the strides they made for this country.