If you have to go into the hospital it is critical that you know how to protect yourself from infections. ABC's Nightline reports that more than two million people contract infections while they are in U. S. hospitals annually of which 90,000 die.

What can patients do to protect themselves? One of the ways, according to ABC’s Dr. Tim Johnson, is to ask every doctor and nurse to wash their hands before they touch you. Even if you are little timid, ask.

In the award-winning patient safety film, "Things You Should Know Before Entering the Hospital," (patientsafetyvideo.com) a hospital nurse admits she has never been asked to wash her hands by a patient but says she would gladly comply if someone did.