Patient/caregiver was instructed regarding measures to practice for preventing contact with pneumonia as follows:
- At times when mask is not available, covering the nose & mouth with a tissue during coughing or sneezing, especially in public places, can help prevent dispersing droplet particles into the surrounding air. This can help control the spread of infection, if any present, to others.
- Regularly clean & disinfect all frequently accessed surfaces, such as, work desk, kitchen counters, and restroom counters, especially during the peak season for pneumonia. Family members should be increasingly proactive on performing this task, especially when someone living under the same roof is seriously immunocompromised, infected, or presenting with symptoms of pneumococcal illness. Practicing isolation of the infected or sick individual, by confining them to one room with restroom access and meals delivered into the room can also contribute significantly to preventing the spread of the disease.
- When in outdoors and on store visits during peak pneumococcal season, individuals can practice designating one hand for handling objects and various surfaces and should especially avoid touching their face, nose, and mouth with the contaminated hand, until they clean the hand with soap & water or hand sanitizer. Practicing handwash with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer upon contacting various surfaces like furniture, tables, doorknobs, and products for sale on the aisles, when in outdoor or during store visits can contribute significantly to preventing contact with the disease causing bacterium. Wearing disposable gloves and changing them periodically after handling objects & various surfaces can also help contain spread of infection.
- Intake of nutritious food, compliance with fluid intake recommendations, getting the required amount of rest & sleep, compliance with stress management measures like exercise & yoga, consumption of supplements like vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, etc., can help boost the immunity and reduce the risk for severe illness due to pneumococcal infection.
